In 1973, after extensive research, the state of Minnesota set a 10-parts-per-million limit on the amount of sulfate, which is a compound of sulfur and oxygen, that could be released into Minnesota waters. The state did so to protect wild-rice beds.

The sulfate not only is consumed by bacteria in waterways to produce wild rice-killing hydrogen sulfide but also aids in making mercury in the waterway bioavailable, ultimately making fish unsafe for human consumption. The main offenders of releasing too much sulfate into waters are iron mines, power plants, refineries, and sewer plants. However, for decades the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued variances to emitters and has allowed the pollution to continue because there was simply no economic way to remove the sulfate.

Recently,

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