Page 24 - 2015 Compass Now

Figure 2: The Community as a Place that Respects Diversity

A Place Where People Are A Place Where People of Different
Treated Respectfully Cultural/Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds

are Included in Decision-Making

Poor/Fair Good Poor/Fair Good
31% 56% 43% 47%

Excellent
13%

COMMUNITY Excellent
10%

Source: COMPASS NOW 2015 Random Household Survey

Quality of the Environment

Clean air is essential to our health and well-being, and the air we breathe impacts our quality of life. Air
quality standards determined by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Minnesota and
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) help protect the public from high concentrations of air
pollutants that can impact human health. Ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide contaminants are all
well within standards in all five counties, and rate as some of the highest quality numbers in Wisconsin and
Minnesota. In addition, all counties within the Great Rivers Region had fewer asthma-related ER visits than
the state averages.

Water pollution degrades surface waters, making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and other
activities. Water pollution is monitored and controlled by regulating sources that discharge pollutants
into waters of the United States. The EPA sets the discharge limits but also delegates regulatory authority
to states that can then issue their own permits and set discharge limits that are at least as stringent as
the EPAs. Many municipalities in the region are attempting to improve their stormwater runoff quality by
implementing best management practices.

River, lake and stream water quality can impact the health, recreational interests, tourism, economy, and
overall quality of life of an area’s residents. States are responsible for listing waters that are impaired, not
meeting their designated uses (fishing, swimming) due to pollutants, and submitting the lists to the EPA for
review and approval.

All municipal water systems in the Great Rivers Region use groundwater as their source. Each municipality
provides some level of treatment to the water before it reaches the public for use. Each community must test
their drinking water periodically for various parameters, including inorganic minerals, man-made organic
compounds, and bacteriological contaminants. Each of these water supply systems must meet EPA and
Wisconsin or Minnesota DNR water quality standards. Within the Great Rivers Region, there are 47 municipal
water systems that provide drinking water to residents. All 47 municipal water systems use chlorine to keep
the water biologically safe throughout the distribution system. Other chemical treatments vary by county or
municipality.

Because of the rural nature of the counties located in the Great Rivers Region, many residents rely on private
wells to provide water for household use. The only way to determine the safety of the water for human or

16 COMPASS NOW 2015