Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Drinking Water Sampling

Summary: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Remediation Division will implement two new systems. One system is an online service that will be integrated into an enterprise data platform to track sampling. The other will manage contractor tracking, sample collection, scheduling, and future tasks. The second system is managed within the enterprise data platform  The goal is to share results by geographic area to inform communities about the safety of their private drinking wells. This will allow all interested parties to search for wells and addresses contacted for samples, including the results. Consequently, the project will speed up and improve the identification of wells at risk. 

The project will store and track reports, communications, and sampling results for every request. It is crucial to search and track wells selected for sampling, including well owner authorizations and refusals, and manage permission letters and responses. The programs handle communication, sampling, analysis, and maintenance for over 4,900 cleanup sites, each requiring sampling of 15 to 60 residential wells statewide. At least 74,000 families will use the online service to request drinking water sampling at their homes to ensure safety standards are met. 

The number of requests and responses may reach up to 60 per project area (affecting up to 294,000 individuals), involving numerous steps before samples can be collected. Effective data transfer between the MPCA and individuals is crucial because MPCA contractors cannot collect samples without receiving permission letters. Additionally, the MPCA will issue the sampling results and manage contractor performance. 

An online groundwater sampling form will facilitate quicker and increased responses to permission requests, aiding in the data transfer between the MPCA, its contractors, well owners, and the public. This project will serve at least five program areas. 

Value: The enterprise data system will enable faster assessments, allowing us to serve more communities. This system will handle sampling and testing requests, track all decisions and activities (including contracts, sample collection, scheduling, communication, and resolution), and store sampling results.