Drinking water

There's no excuse for unsafe drinking water. Yet every day, there are Minnesotans whose health is put at risk by outdated lead service lines, aging water treatment infrastructure or community wells tainted with nitrates. Unsurprisingly, it's often economically disadvantaged communities and communities of color who are most at risk. At FMR, we advocate for funding and policies that will ensure all Minnesotans — regardless of their ZIP code — have access to safe drinking water, while simultaneously defending the important environmental protections that do exist.

Drinking water
Winter tips: How to safely salt your sidewalk and protect the river

update

Minnesota uses a lot of road and sidewalk salt, and our waters are paying the price. Check out our winter maintenance and salting tips, and sign our petition to support smart salting measures. Read more
A pile of deicing salt piled along a sidewalk in winter.
Keeping the river front of mind in Minnesota's climate change plan

update

We’ve already seen improvements to the state's climate change plan as a direct result of our feedback, setting up stronger river protections for the years ahead. Read more
A view from above of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Tell Minnesota: Include river-friendly transportation and farming in the new climate plan

update

The current draft isn't bad, some improvements would help ensure clean water for all communities. Read more
Floodwaters encroach on buildings and paths at St. Paul's Harriet Island.
What about water quality? 3 takeaways from our time at the SAF Conference

update

Two members of FMR's Water program attended to be a voice for the river and clean water in discussions around Sustainable Aviation Fuel policy. Read more
FMR's Meghan Anderson and Trevor Russell speaking to attendees at the SAF Conference.
What we like (and what we're not sure about) in MN's latest Nutrient Reduction Strategy draft

update

This is the state’s flagship plan to address the stubborn, long-running nitrate and phosphorus pollution issues plaguing many of Minnesota’s waters. Read more
A shallow pond surrounded by agricultural land.
Oxygen-starved 'dead zone' in Gulf nearly as big as Connecticut

update

Shrinking this recurring, humanmade disaster will require a fundamental shift in agriculture practices in the upper Midwest. Read more
A wide view of a tugboat in the Gulf of Mexico, against a cloudy sky.
FMR supports better feedlot rules for water quality

update

FMR recently weighed in on potential changes to feedlot rules. Read our full comment letter to learn more. Read more
Cow in a feedlot

Pages

Upcoming Events

December 5 - 19, 2025
F-O-K Studios in St. Paul
This school year
In your classroom or outside
Now through December 31, 2025
Mississippi River National River and Recreation Area, Twin Cities metro