Public Health and Environment

Children's Environmental Health - Drinking Water

While most drinking water in Minnesota is safe, drinking water that is unsafe can make you or your new baby sick. To make sure that your water is safe, there are some basic steps to consider before consuming water or using it to make formula or juice. The following resources and action steps provide some information to begin looking at the safety of the water you are drinking.

Washington County Links

• Well Testing Information
• Lead in Drinking Water Fact Sheet

Other Resources

• Minnesota Department of Health
  • Water Quality
  • Let It Run ... and Get the Lead Out!
  • Safe Drinking Water for your Baby

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Drinking Water

Action Steps

• Find out where your drinking water comes from, a public water system or private well.
• If your water comes from a private well test annually for bacteria and nitrate.
• Use only cold water for cooking and drinking – do not use hot water for making baby formula.
• The best way to rid pipes of water that may contain lead is to let the cold water faucet run until you feel that the water is as cold as it will get. See the Let It Run ... and Get the Lead Out! website.