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The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Rural Water Association have recognized the city of Clarks Grove for its efforts to protect community drinking water sources. Clarks Grove was a finalist for a 2025 Source Water Protection Award from MDH and MRWA.

The city sealed an abandoned well, eliminating a potential source of contamination to the aquifer that supplies the city’s drinking water.

Sealing unused wells is an important component of source water protection, as an unused well can act like a drain, allowing surface water runoff, contaminated water or improperly discarded waste a direct pathway into drinking water sources.

MDH and MRWA work with public water suppliers and other partners to develop and implement protection plans that include efforts to prevent contamination of the drinking water source. Preventing contamination is the best and most cost-effective way to protect drinking water for public health.

Earlier this week, MDH released the state’s first Drinking Water Action Plan, which outlines strategies for protecting drinking water from source to tap over the next 10 years. The plan identifies goals for ensuring safe drinking water around the state and highlights the vital partnerships with local communities to achieve these goals.