Environmental Public Health

Environmental Public Health Surveillance includes: 

• Detecting things in the environment that pose a risk to human health,
• Investigating and follow-up regarding reports of a public health nuisance in which the health of the public is at risk or in danger, and
• Answering questions from the public and making referrals to existing resources. 

Topics include:

• Air Quality
• Bed Bugs
• Carbon Monoxide
• Food, Pools, and Lodging
  • Food Safety
  • Complaints
  • Licensing
• Lead
• Mold and Moisture
• Rabies
• Radon: Radon testing kits are available at Polk County Public Health Offices. Please call for availability. 
• Safe Medication Disposal
• Water
  • Is your Drinking Water Safe?
  • Well Water, Well water test kits are available at East Polk Soil and Water Conservation District and West Polk Soil and Water Conservation District. 
    • RMB Environmental Laboratories: Sampling kits are available through these partners for pick-up and drop-off with courier services to the lab.
    • County Well Index: Click the link and enter the city/township to find your well.
    • Nitrate in Drinking Water
    • Arsenic in Drinking Water- Test your well for arsenic at least once. Arsenic is in groundwater throughout the state of Minnesota, often found at high levels in our area.
• Family Safety
  • Children's Environmental Health
  • Baby/Toddler Home Safety
  • Safe Medication Disposal