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mDEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Safe Drinking Water Fee Also known as the public water supply fee When customers receive their water bill from their water supplier,they may notice that one of the items in the list of charges is"water testing fee"or"state test fee."This fee is called the safe drinking water fee.It is also known as the service connection fee. The fee helps ensure that all public water systems get the support needed to provide safe drinking water everywhere in Minnesota. The 2025 Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill raising the safe drinking water fee from$9.72 to$15.22 per water service connection,effective January 1,2026.This fee increase reduces the state's reliance on federal infrastructure funds,making more dollars available for local drinking water infrastructure projects. I low the fee protects drinking water statewide The fee funds Minnesota Department of Health's(MDH)regulatory and technical assistance services for public drinking water systems.Our staff across the state build relationships with drinking water operators that result in extensive knowledge,trust,and a willingness to take action to prevent a violation of the safe drinking water standards.This cost-effective assistance results in over 97%compliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act(SDWA) standards year after year. Annually,$22 million is collected through the fee.About$3 million is spent on lab costs for drinking water tests. Much of the rest is used to support staff who conduct inspections,collect and analyze required water samples,and provide technical assistance,training,and support to enhance water systems'capacity to meet SDWA requirements. For past budgetary information,visit How the Safe Drinking Water Fee Supports Drinking Water Protection Efforts ,O_[LINK http://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/does/fee p. f]: MDH services are especially helpful to small,rural water systems,which have more difficulty meeting water standards.Because of smaller customer bases,these systems have fewer resources for testing,investigations,and physical improvements. This work helps ensure that everyone,everywhere in Minnesota has access to safe and sufficient drinking water. Investing in technical support for drinking; water safety The safe drinking water fee increase will go into effect on January 1,2026.It accounts for several changes since the last fee increase in 2019: • Significant inflationary pressures. • Increased lab costs for drinking water testing. • Projected and potential deep reductions in federal funding. • Numerous SDWA changes that have occurred and are on the horizon. • Need for drinking water data system updates and improvements. While federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act(IIJA)has enabled increased capacity and technical support to be provided to public water systems,this funding is set to expire.The fee increase provides stability to maintain the current level of support to water systems during a time of uncertain federal funding. Reducing MDH program dependence on IIJA for technical support will make more funding available for local drinking water infrastructure. The fee increase also supports existing staff that were hired to meet increased expectations and expansions of SDWA requirements for drinking water.These include regulation of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS), cybersecurity requirements,enhanced lead and copper regulations,increased consumer reporting,increased regulation of microbial and disinfection by products,and increased oversight of public water system operation and maintenance.The staff will continue to administer new federal rules,to conduct sampling and inspections at public water systems,and provide technical assistance,particularly to smaller systems that have fewer resources. 1/2