Drinking Water Protection

Groundwater/Wellhead protection is a means of safeguarding public water supply wells by preventing contaminants from entering the area that contributes to the well or well field over a period of time.
The City of Baxter has been taking steps to protect local groundwater and drinking water resources by developing and implementing a Wellhead Protection Plan. The goal of wellhead protection is to identify and manage potential sources of contamination in the Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA) which supplies water to city wells. Our plan was developed locally with input from community residents, State, local and Federal resource staff and approved by the Minnesota Department of Health.

The goal of this plan is to ensure that the City of Baxter continues to provide its customers with a safe and abundant supply of clean drinking water for generations to come. The City of Baxter water supply currently meets and exceeds all State and Federal drinking water standards. The city regularly samples the water from our wells and provides a yearly Consumer Confidence Report to residents through the Brainerd Daily Dispatch and on the city website.

The Wellhead Protection Plan can only be successful if residents play a role in helping to protect the aquifer. To help us protect our drinking water, you can do the following:

• Help identify land uses and potential sources of contamination on your property (wells, tanks, septic systems, hazardous wastes, etc.)
• Make sure any potential sources of contamination under your control meet local, state and federal regulations.
• Seal unused wells on your property, according to Minnesota Well Code. See the Minnesota
• Department of Health website for more information. Owners of active wells should refer to the Well
• Owner’s Handbook for proper construction, maintenance and sampling information.
• Use hazardous products only as directed and dispose of them properly when no longer needed.
• Visit the Crow Wing County website for information on handling and disposal of wastes.
• Practice proper turf management techniques and avoid over-fertilization of your lawns or gardens.
• Visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website for more information.
• Identify whether your property contains a Class V injection well. Information about Class V wells can be found on the EPA’s website. If you have a Class V well on your property, make sure you follow all EPA rules regarding these wells.
• Conserve water whenever possible. Lawn watering is one of the largest uses of municipal water during summer months.
• Report spills or illegal dumping of hazardous wastes, fuels, or chemicals to law enforcement. 

The City will be doing a variety of education and outreach activities about wellhead protection. Through these efforts, we plan to educate the public on where our drinking water comes from and promote practices that protect the groundwater aquifer used by the city wells from potential contaminants.

Drinking Water Report

The City of Baxter is issuing the results of monitoring done on its drinking water for the period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017.  The purpose of this report is to advance consumers’ understanding of drinking water and heighten awareness of the need to protect precious water resources.

The Consumer Confidence Report is not being directly mailed to all customers; however a copy is available upon request or may be downloaded below. Please call (218) 454-5115 if you have questions about the City of Baxter drinking water, would like to request a copy of the report or would like information about opportunities for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality of the water.