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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #
PREPARED BY:
June 16, 2003
9A
Bud Osmundson, Director of Public Works
AGENDA ITEM:
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REPORT REGARDING THE CITY'S
POTABLE WATER SYTEM
DISCUSSION:
The City has been addressing its potable (drinking) water concerns through four
separate areas: (1) increasing Production Capacity, (2) promoting Conservation,
(3) advancing Education of drinking water issues, and (4) Communicating all of
these areas to the public. This agenda item is one way to communicate with the
public about our potable water system.
Production Capacity: The City has recently completed two major projects
started in 2002 to increase the water production capabilities of the City. Well
No.7, a FIG well, was recently completed and has added 450 gallons per minute
(gpm), or 0.65 million gallons per day (mgd) to our pumping capacity. The
attached table entitled "Status of Well Capacity" shows the date of existing well
construction, each well's pumping capacity, and the total system capacity. We
have increased the pumping capacity of the City by 47% since the summer of
2001 when we had to severely limit potable water use. In comparison, the City's
population has increased about 20% in that same time period. Well No.7 has a
total cost of approximately $300,000.
The second project is the rehabilitation of the Tower Street water tower. The
improvements to the tower included a significant amount of structural repairs to
the interior of the tower, plus repainting both inside and out. This tower should
be in good condition and not require any major maintenance for the next 15
years. The City's other water tower on Crest Avenue will be rehabilitated this
fall. The total cost of the Tower Street and Crest Avenue tower rehabilitation
will cost approximately $1.1 million when complete.
We are trying to put one additional 1100 gpm well in the Brooksville Hills area
so that it keeps our options open for a centralized water treatment plant in the
future. Our Comprehensive Potable Water System Plan and our physical water
system constructed to date, is built around the concept of the water being
pumped from the Brooksville Hills area out to the water users throughout the
city. To that issue, staff is pursuing constructing an additional well in the
Brooksville Hills area with the DNR. It may require additional monitoring wells
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agenda water issues 6-2003
and a system operation plan to accomplish this task.
Weare also working with the SMSC on an interconnect to their water system.
This would provide backups to both of our water systems in case of emergency.
Conservation: Potable water is our most important natural resource. We
should do all that we can to conserve our drinking water. The State has
mandated that each city have a Conservation and Emergency Management Plan
(CEMP) which the City prepared in 1996. This plan outlines what steps we need
to take to conserve water in Prior Lake. One ofthe major conservation steps is
the City's mandatory odd - even watering restrictions that were adopted with the
CEMP. Each year we send out a reminder of this ordinance to every resident in
Prior Lake.
A major project which the City has undertaken to improve conservation is the
replacement of the City's oldest water meters and the installation of the new
radio read, meter reading system. This promotes conservation in assuring each
resident of accurate water use and informs them exactly of significant increases
in their water use.
The City also took action in adopting an ordinance requiring sensors on
commercial irrigation systems in an effort to prevent over watering of
landscaping.
The City promotes conservation utilizing numerous media outlets as covered
below.
Education/Communication: People need to be kept informed about our
drinking water system and educated about conservation techniques. The City
advances Education and Communication about drinking water in a variety of
ways. We have annually sent out the Consumer Confidence Report, required by
Federal and State rules, to all residents for a number of years. This report
contains a plethora of information about the City's potable water system
including conservation tips, improvement projects, and water quality
information. This year's report will be mailed out in about two weeks. We also
from time to time send out mailers regarding water conservation tips and include
articles about drinking water in the Wavelength and Prior Lake American.
We also utilize the City's cable television outlet having completed a couple of
"Inside City Hall" programs about the water system. This is one area we need to
utilize more in the future and is easily accomplished.
The City's web site also is utilized in communication and education. Currently
there is information about the tower project and conservation tips on the website,
but more information, plus links to other information sources, will be added in
the future.
REVIEWED BY:
agenda water issues 6-2003
Future Water System Needs and Actions: Staffis working with the DNR on
the next well. Later this year we will be requesting approval for a consultant to
update our Comprehensive Potable Water System Plan to include planning for
the new annexation area and to identify necessary improvements to the system.
We have started the process to complete the mandated Well Head Protection
Plan, a two year project. Next year we will be completing the mandated Water
System Vulnerability Assessment to identify and correct possible terrorist targets
within our water system. Staffwill continue to improve communication and
education through the use of the City web site and cable television.
Conclusion:
Taking the necessary action to keep improving and maintaining the City's
drinking water system is an ongoing effort in our aging, yet growing city. It
needs to remain a priority for the City Council and staff. Communicating the
needs of our system and oviding timely potable water information is a priority
of our staff.
STATUS OF WELL CAPACITY
Year Item Well Rated Total Total
Capacity in Capacity of Capacity
Gallons per Well(s) in of System
Minute (GPM) Million in MGD
Gallons per
Day (MGD)
Summer 2001 Existing Well No.'s 3,4, & 5 1100 X 3 = 3300 4.5 4.5
Feb. 2002 Well No.6 1100 1.5 6.0
Spring 2003 Well No. 7 (FIG Well) 450 0.6 6.6
2003 - 2004 New Jordan Well (Well No.8) 1100 (Estimated) 1.5 8.2
Future New Jordan Well (Well No.9) 1100 (Estimated) 1.5 9.7
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