Source Water Education Wins in Detroit Lakes

Stories from the Source

Detroit Lakes has been a frontrunner for source water protection efforts in Minnesota for over 30 years. Starting with becoming an active member of the Groundwater Guardian in the mid-1990s, a designation through the Groundwater Foundation, the city of Detroit Lakes has prioritized groundwater awareness and protection in their communities through a variety of innovative programs.

The Children’s Water Festival is one of those innovative programs. Each year, city staff spend a few weeks educating students on how the city’s water system works and taking them on field trips to see the how drinking water is brought into their homes every day. Afterwards, students present to parents, fellow students, and the general public on what they have learned. 

Detroit Lakes also hosts is the Lakes Country Water Festival event, inviting neighboring schools to attend. Over 400 students gather every year to learn about a variety of topics including water conservation, aquifers, sealing unused wells, and the overall importance of protecting our sources of drinking water. 

Detroit Lakes also provides public outreach to other segments of the population. The city’s newsletter, provided both in print and via the city’s website, consistently publishes articles on proper well management, the importance of sealing unused wells, and general information about wellhead protection efforts. Staff are available at local events and county fairs to provide information and speak with residents about critical drinking and source water issues.

The city has also prioritized source water protection by installing wellhead protection signs along major roadways that enter the Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA). Since the DWSMA extends beyond the city limits, Detroit Lakes city staff are diligent about incorporating source water protection when planning new developments within the city as well as communicating with neighboring towns to do the same. 

They also take proactive measures to protect their water supply, like when they purchased and installed a generator; in the case of a power outage, this would allow well pumps in the DWSMA to continue to run and provide drinking water to residents. 

Detroit Lakes has also been active in finding unaccounted-for wells within the DWSMA. Through continued outreach and communication to residents, the city has located and mapped about 240 additional wells. The city mails brochures to well owners in the DWSMA that describe how to properly manage their well and the importance of sealing unused wells to prevent contamination. These communications have allowed city and property owners to collaborate in obtaining grant dollars to seal the wells that are no longer being used. 

Detroit Lakes has demonstrated strong leadership and significant commitment to protecting source and drinking water, which will benefit and protect its residents now and for generations to come.
 

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