City of Hastings, MN
Home MenuView a chronology of news and events related to PFAS in Hastings.
October 21, 2024
Water Rate Increases Planned for 2025
The water portion of residential and business utility bills is expected to increase by 10% in January of 2025. This includes 6.5% to cover costs associated with building the first of three water treatment plants to remove PFAS “forever chemicals” and nitrates from the city’s water supply, plus 3.5% for inflation and scheduled maintenance of the existing infrastructure. A second water rate increase is expected in July 2025, with the amount dependent on construction cost estimates and other funding sources at that time. A postcard will be mailed to all residents and businesses in Hastings. A utility bill insert will be included in upcoming mailings. A webpage with FAQs will be published in the near future.
Watch a PFAS Update from the City Administrator (57:32-minute mark)
October 7, 2024
City Administrator Dan Wietecha updated the City Council on Monday about PFAS contaminants in city drinking water. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is now recognizing a connection between Hastings Well #5 and the 3M plant in Cottage Grove. The city will qualify for 3M Settlement money to cover treatment costs for Well #5, which will offset some of the proposed water rate increases for 2025. The city and MPCA are also looking into connections between the other wells and 3M. Hastings PFAS levels exceed new EPA guidelines that were released in April. The city has until spring 2029 to build three new water treatment plants to remove the PFAS contaminants from city drinking water.
Listen to the Administrator's PFAS Update (29.58-minute mark)
Read the Memo to the City Council
September 4, 2024
City Administrator Dan Wietecha provides an update at the September 4 City Council meeting on progress to mitigate PFAS in Hastings drinking water. He mentions a recent siting study that looks at location options for building the water treatment plants. Site 1 will be in the Industrial Park with design and construction in 2025.
Read the Water Treatment Plants Siting Study
Watch the Administrator Update ( 2:04:47 mark)
August 5, 2024
City Administrator Dan Wietecha provides an update at the August 5 City Council meeting on progress to mitigate PFAS in Hastings drinking water, including progress on locations for the water treatment plants, funding options for building three water treatment plants, including water rate increases, and more.
Read the Memo to Council
Watch the Administrator update (1:07:36 mark)
July 1, 2024
City Administrator Dan Wietecha provides an update at the July 1 City Council meeting on progress to mitigate PFAS in Hastings drinking water.
Watch the Administrator update (22.48-minute mark)
May 9, 2024 Public Meeting Video
Watch the public meeting on Hastings drinking water and PFAS that was held May 9 at the Hastings High School.
Watch the May 9, 2024 PFAS Public Meeting
View the presentation slides:
- Minnesota Department of Health May 9, 2024 Presentation
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency May 9, 2024 Presentation
- City of Hastings May 9, 2024 Presentation
- Read an FAQ
Event: Public Meeting set for Thursday, May 9
The City of Hastings will hold a public meeting on Hastings drinking water and PFAS contaminants on Thursday, May 9 at 6:00 p.m. at the Hastings High School, 200 General Sieben Drive. Park in lower-level parking lot.
The agenda will include an information session, followed by a question-and-answer session. Presentations by Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and City of Hastings.
View a Public Notice.
Read an FAQ to learn more about the EPA maximum contaminant levels and steps you can take to protect your health.
Update April 10, 2024
The City of Hastings issued the following public notice about Hastings drinking water in response to new EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA and PFOS to 4 parts per trillion that were just announced this morning. The City will hold a public meeting within the next 30 days for residents and the community.
For media inquiries, please contact Ryan Stempski, Director of Engineering and Public Works, at 651-480-2368 or City Administrator Dan Wietecha at 651-480-2326.
The Minnesota Department of Health PFAS webpage has general information about PFAS and human health and ongoing activities in Minnesota. The page also includes information on steps that consumers can take to protect themselves from exposure to PFAS. Residents with specific concerns should contact their healthcare providers.
The EPA website is where you can find the EPA factsheets and other health resources provided.
Update March, 2024
Interview with Ryan Stempski
Our Public Works Director and City Engineer Ryan Stempski talks PFAS, infrastructure, street projects and more in this Community In Depth program on KDWA Radio.
PFAS Legislative Backgrounder
Update January 17, 2024
City Remains Committed to Treating PFAS
On January 15, The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) provided health-based guidance levels for PFOS and PFOA that are lower than the previous health-based values for these chemicals. With this release by MDH, no action is recommended at this time, but they will continue to keep the city informed. Hastings works with MDH to regularly sample all municipal wells, and both PFOS and PFOA are present in our wells. City staff continue to work with MDH and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to understand the meaning of these guidance levels and future steps we should take to protect the drinking water system. The City of Hastings continues its plans to design three PFAS water treatment plants to mitigate PFAS from our drinking water, which will position the city for implementation when action is required, and funding is determined.
Update August 7, 2023
City Council Updated on PFAS Feasibility Study
View Council Presentation PFAS Update
Update July 31, 2023
State of Minnesota Issues New Warnings About Eating Fish due to PFAS
The State of Minnesota has updated fish consumption guidance to advise that certain people not eat fish from two bodies of water in the Twin Cities. Those waterbodies are the Mississippi River from the Ford Dam in St. Paul to Hastings Dam (known as Pool 2) and Lake Rebecca in Hastings. People who should avoid eating fish from these locations include children under age 15, people who are or could become pregnant, and those who are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For more information on safe-eating guidelines for fish in Minnesota, refer to the Minnesota Department of Health’s Fish Consumption Guidance website at https://www.health.state.mn.us/.../enviro.../fish/index.html
Update July 26, 2023
"Forever chemicals" are in City wells, and City leadership has been working to identify the sources of the contaminants and to find funding for mitigation, as they prepare for a pending water advisory. Learn more in recent interviews on KDWA and in the Star Tribune.
The Hastings City Council will hold a Council Workshop on Monday, August 7, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
Update March 15, 2023
On Tuesday, March 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced draft Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) as a critical step toward reducing Americans' exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through drinking water. The EPA will take public comments on the proposed regulation after its publication in the Federal Register. The limits are expected to be finalized in late 2023 or early 2024. Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Health is re-evaluating and revising the MDH PFAS health-based guidance values to better protect public health. Updated MDH guidance for PFAS are expected to be released later in 2023.
Read the City's News Announcement
Update March 7, 2023
On Tuesday, February 21, in a Council Workshop, City Council members received an update on the Limited Phase 1 Environmental Assessment on PFAS (per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances) in the City’s drinking water supply and discussed potential next steps, financial impacts, and communication.
View the Council PFAS Presentation Information
Read a Statement from City Council
Update September 6, 2022
At the request of City staff, representatives from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) presented about new Interim Health Advisory Levels for two PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) in public drinking water that were released in June by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA is expected to release new draft regulatory values for the two PFAS for public comment in late 2022 and final values in late 2023. MDH staff also described MDH’s efforts to develop updated state guidance values for PFAS.
See the news announcement:
View the Presentation by the Minnesota Department of Health
Watch the Presentation at the City Council Meeting by the Minnesota Department of Health (begins at 6:10 time)