3M PFAS pollution has made drinking water a campaign issue in this east metro legislative district

While door-knocking in Hastings this summer, clean drinking water was high on Tom Dippel’s list of talking points with community members.

“The water issue is a very local issue here,” explained Dippel, a Republican state Senate candidate who resides in Cottage Grove and currently serves in the Minnesota House.

Five of Hasting’s six municipal wells exceed federal safe drinking water limits for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These are synthetic, hard-to-break-down chemicals that can lead to cancer, infertility and other major health issues in humans and animals. The chemicals are used in thousands of household items like nonstick cookware, water-resistant fabrics and cleaning products, including many manufactured by Maplewood-based 3M. 

The company has been embroiled in lawsuits for nearly 20 years after it was found to have knowingly contaminated local waterways with PFAS. Now the water pollution i...