Learn about Minnesota Water at State Fair’s Eco Experience Building

So much of the Minnesota State Fair is about consuming something, but one section of the fair is about preserving. The State Fair Eco Experience educates people about the environment. Each exhibit helps Minnesotans learn a little bit more about where they live.  

Learn about Water

 “It gives us a chance to talk about water,” says Stew Thornley with the Minnesota Department of Health.  “Is it safe? Can you drink it from the tap? Do you need filters? Do you need bottled water? Good conversations about water are what we get to have, which is so important. If we can be talking about water even if we don’t agree on all the particulars that’s a good thing.”

One of the most popular exhibits in the Eco Experience building is the water bar. Not only can you taste shots of water from all around Minnesota, but you can also learn about the importance of clean water.

 “It starts with protecting our water sources,” added Thornley. “Keeping bad things out of water is a lot easier than taking them out of water.”

How you can help

If you live anywhere in the metro you can sign up to help keep your water source clean by adopting a drain.

“All they are committing to is to just go out and pick up the trash put it in a bag and keep the drain clean,” says Ashley Robbinson from Adopt a Drain. “We really encourage those who have adopted a drain to try to keep leaves, garbage and lawn clippings out of any drains near their home and drain they have adopted.

Mostly, those at the Eco Experience hope to open people’s minds.

“People sometime fear for the safety of the water,” added Thornley.  “They think it’s not going to be safe. If people make informed choices on things like buying bottled water that’s fine. However, when people start buying bottled water out of fear for the safety of normal water that’s where we’d like to have a good conversation.

Advocates hope they can turn those conversations into lifestyle changes. If you would like to adopt a drain and pledge to keep it clean you can do so by clicking here.