Water – TheMinotVoice.com

Dairy, Meat, and Growing Water Scarcity

by: MinotVoice | March 14, 2025

Freshwater is a limited resource, and how we use it matters. Agriculture, especially meat and dairy production, accounts for most of the world’s water consumption, with a significant portion going toward growing feed crops. In places like California and Utah, shifting weather patterns and increasing demand are prompting conversations about more efficient water use. Experts

Read & Share sourced from: Sentient

Hoeven: Trump Administration to Reverse Biden WOTUS Overreach, Provide Regulatory Relief & Certainty

by: MinotVoice | March 13, 2025

Senator John Hoeven is welcoming a move to rein in federal water regulations, calling it a win for farmers, energy producers, and landowners. The EPA’s decision to roll back the expanded WOTUS rule aligns with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling and aims to reduce regulatory burdens. Hoeven, a longtime critic of the broader definition, says

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Motion to reconsider fluoride decision on Regina water coming to city council

by: Josh Wolsky | March 6, 2025

Regina’s long-running fluoride debate may not be settled after all. Ward 10 Councillor Clark Bezo is asking city council to reconsider its 2021 decision to introduce fluoride into the city’s water supply, delaying implementation until more evidence on potential health risks is reviewed. The fluoridation program, endorsed by major health organizations, is set to begin

Read & Share sourced from: Regina Leader Post

North Dakota Selects Three Aquifers for Recharge Study

by: MinotVoice | March 1, 2025

North Dakota’s water future depends on smart planning, and state officials are taking a proactive approach. After a comprehensive study on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), the Department of Water Resources has identified three key aquifers for further analysis. These underground reserves—vital for agriculture, industry, and communities—are under increasing pressure. With the help of advanced modeling,

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Wyoming tribes push to control reservation water as the state proposes sending it to outside irrigators

by: Josh Wolsky | February 19, 2025

Water is power on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation, but for the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, control over that resource has long been out of reach. Decades of legal battles have left non-Native irrigators in charge of much of the water, and climate change is making access even more precarious. Now, as political forces

Read & Share sourced from: WyoFile

North TX county declares disaster due to PFAS contamination / Public News Service

By: Freda Ross, Public News Service | February 17, 2025

A north Texas commissioners’ court has declared a county disaster because of PFAS contamination. Johnson County Commissioners are asking Gov. Greg Abbott to join the declaration. PFAS – also known as forever chemicals – have been found in soil, groundwater, and surface water across the county. Commissioner Larry Woolley said the problem has been going on

Read & Share sourced from: Public News Service

15 years in the making, MN could set nitrate standards for lakes

By: Mike Moen, Public News Service | February 16, 2025

Minnesota is giving its water quality standards a fresh look. With public input in their hands, officials are under pressure to add language about nitrate levels, a move some said is long overdue. Nitrate pollution is often tied to farm runoff containing fertilizers and animal waste. There are standards for drinking water but conservation groups

Read & Share sourced from: Public News Service

House Bill 1605 Would Ban Intentional Addition of Fluoride to Public Water Supplies

by: Josh Wolsky | February 4, 2025

A new House Bill in North Dakota could significantly change the state’s approach to public water supplies by banning the intentional addition of fluoride. Known as House Bill 1605, it would impose fines for violations, while allowing naturally occurring fluoride to remain in the water. Advocates like Dr. Bradley King argue the move could harm

Read & Share sourced from: Megan Topping

NAWS seeks funds to continue construction

by: Josh Wolsky | January 31, 2025

NAWS water is expected in the systm this summer, but there’s more than $100 million required to complete the project. Then once it’s done, there are 500 moving parts that need oversight and regular inspection. Those are the highlights of the story told to the House Appropriations committee recently; Jill Schramm has the full story

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

North Dakota lawmakers consider drawing water district borders to match watersheds

by: MinotVoice | January 29, 2025

North Dakota lawmakers are considering a significant shift in how the state manages its water resources, influenced by neighboring Minnesota’s approach. A recent recommendation from the Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee suggests a study to explore the possibility of reconfiguring North Dakota’s water districts based on watershed boundaries rather than political ones. This shift

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

In Duluth, free water safety classes pay off for preschoolers and parents

by: MinotVoice | January 29, 2025

At the downtown Duluth YMCA, preschoolers from Piedmont Elementary are diving into swim lessons with enthusiasm and confidence. With an engaging program designed by Sherry Williams, director of Duluth’s Head Start, these classes not only teach essential water skills but also address safety concerns in a city rich with lakes and waterways. Acknowledging that many

Read & Share sourced from: MPR

Watch: Midwinter Waterfowl Survey 2025

by: Josh Wolsky | January 24, 2025

For nearly a century, biologists across North America have braved midwinter chill to track migrating waterfowl. In North Dakota, this long-running survey provides a snapshot of wintering geese and ducks, revealing how weather, habitat, and migration patterns shape their numbers. This year, with over 880,000 Canada geese counted, the data offers crucial insights for managing

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Sweden Bans corrosive liquid drain cleaners

by: MinotVoice | January 18, 2025

Starting this year, Sweden has taken a firm stand against a common household item: highly corrosive liquid drain cleaners. The Swedish Chemicals Agency emphasizes that these liquids pose significant health and environmental risks. What does this have to do with life in Minot? Absolutely nothing. Other than it forces us to think about all the

Read & Share sourced from: Radio Sweden

Armstrong Appoints New Leadership in Water Resources, Interim Iabor Commissioner

by: Josh Wolsky | January 9, 2025

It is common in leadership turnovers for the newly elected officials to put new people into administrative roles, and Governor Armstrong is holding to that tradition. Yesterday via news release, he announced two appointments: Reice Haase has been appointed Director of the Department of Water Resources. Zach Greenberg has been appointed the interim state labor

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Sweden just turned the humble water tower into art

by: MinotVoice | January 7, 2025

In Varberg, Sweden, a leaky water system sparked a rethink of their aging infrastructure. Picture this: a town almost tripling its population since the 1960s, relying on an old UFO-like concrete tower that just couldn’t keep up. When the taps ran dry, the urgency became clear—a new solution was needed. Varberg’s answer? Transforming the mundane

Read & Share sourced from: Fast Company

In 4-3 decision, Grand Forks to keep fluoride in water for now

by: MinotVoice | January 7, 2025

In Grand Forks, a proposal to remove fluoride from the city’s drinking water narrowly failed in a 4-3 City Council vote. The debate centered around health concerns voiced by Council member Rebecca Osowski, though federal guidelines confirm safety at current levels. While fluoride strengthens teeth, arguments against it touched on broader issues of “forced medication.”

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald