Staff and those incarcerated at the Minnesota Department of Corrections' prison in Lino Lakes were notified Tuesday that lead had been found in three faucets at the facility.
According to the DOC the lead found in three of the 10 taps that were tested exceeded the EPA action level. The faucets have been secured and were not in living areas, or staff break areas at the facility.
The discovery comes as DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell announced the development of a "comprehensive water management protocol" plan across all facilities after more than 100 inmates at the Stillwater prison citied water quality and lack of air conditioning as their reason for staging a protest.
“Safe water is essential to the health and well-being of our staff and people we serve,” wrote Commissioner Schnell. “We are prioritizing the development and implementation of comprehensive water management plans for all Department of Corrections’ facilities."
The Department of Corrections is still waiting for the final report from the Minnesota Department Health regarding water quality at 81 tap sites at Stillwater. Preliminary results reportedly show no immediate risk associated with the facility's drinking water.
Commissioner Schnell has directed the following actions be taken as part of the comprehensive water management protocol plan:
1. Develop, implement, and initiate a comprehensive water testing protocol to be done at all DOC correctional facilities within the next 45 days.
2. Implement the contracting procedure to hire a qualified contractor within 4 weeks to develop a water management plan for each DOC correctional facility starting with MCF-Lino Lakes and Stillwater.
3. Posting the Minnesota Department of Health Consumer Confidence Reports pertaining to water quality for each DOC correctional facility on the DOC’s public website on or before the end of the day on 9/20.
4. Establishment, recruitment, and hiring of an Industrial Hygienist position to give exclusive focus to water, air, and other environmental health concerns.