STILWATER, Minn. — State officials announced Saturday that they had ordered more extensive water testing at the Stillwater prison to ensure it is safe to drink.
The decision comes after recent protests calling for better prison conditions.
More than 100 men are housed in B East at the Stillwater prison organized a peaceful protest last Sunday morningand refused to return to their cells. Advocates for the inmates returned to the prison Monday to raise their voices in support of the inmates.
RELATED: Protesters are denouncing conditions at the Stillwater prison following Sunday’s inmate protest
Some advocates called for an independent investigation into the prison’s water and possible lead and asbestos contamination. They also want the Justice Department to launch an investigation into the Department of Corrections.
The DOC says monthly and annual water testing results, conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health and a third-party laboratory, have shown that the water at the Stillwater prison does not pose a health risk and that there have been no reports of water-related illnesses among staff and residents. prisoners.
The new round of water testing will determine specific levels and types of sediments, such as iron, rust and manganese. This type of testing has not happened at the Stillwater facility in the past.
Andy Skoogman, a spokesperson for the DOC, said the tests will help the department identify and implement its “long-term water filtration strategy.”
The DOC says it has had bottled water brought in for staff and incarcerated individuals while they wait for test results.
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