HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.0 Issues, Paroblems, and Opportunities
3.0 Issues, Problems, and Opportunities
In accordance with Minnesota Rules chapter 4720.5230, this section discusses issues, problems, and
opportunities related to land use, comments from local units of government and the general public,
the data elements and local, state, and federal programs and regulations.
3.1 land Use Issues, Problems, and Opportunities
3.1.1 Source Water Aquifer
A portion of Prior Lake's main source water aquifer for the public water supply has been classified as
being vulnerable to contamination. Land use issues, problems and opportunities could potentially
affect the management of the municipal wells and the corresponding DWSMA.
As Prior Lake installs additional municipal wells the delineated WHP As and DWSMAs will need to
be updated or new WHP As and DWSMAs will need to be delineated (depending on the well
location), as required by the Minnesota Wellhead Protection Rules. The City of Prior Lake began
operating Wells 8 and 9 as this Plan was being prepared. The addition of new high capacity wells
within or near the DWSMAs (either municipal wells or private wells) could produce changes in the
groundwater flow system (e.g., flow direction, static water level, etc.) that could result in changes to
the shape and extent of the WHP As and DWSMAs delineated for this Plan. The City will work with
the Wellhead Protection Consultant and MDH to amend this Plan as necessary when additional high
capacity wells are installed in or near the DWSMAs.
Prior Lake has a Comprehensive Plan in place that includes policies for managing growth of the City,
the allowable land uses, water supplies, and wells (Prior Lake, 2005a). Policies identified in the
Comprehensive Plan will protect the City's source water aquifer. Prior Lake will work with Credit
River and Spring Lake Townships to develop management policies that will protect the source water
aquifer in the portion of the eastern DWSMA that extends into these townships.
3.1.2 Groundwater Quality
Groundwater pumped from the Jordan Sandstone aquifer and FIG aquifer by the Prior Lake
municipal wells is currently free of pathogens and disease-causing organisms. In addition, Prior
Lake's public water supply currently meets or exceeds the water quality requirements of the federal
P:\Mpls\23 MN\70\2370189 Prior lake WHPP Part 2\WorkFiles\PL Part 2 WHP Plan.doc
28
Safe Drinking Water Act. No contaminants have been reported in water samples from the Prior Lake
municipal wells at concentrations that exceed applicable federal health-related standards.
The quality of the water pumped from the Prior Lake municipal wells meets or exceeds all applicable
federal standards related to human health. However, iron and manganese concentrations in the water
exceed the National Secondary Drinking Water Standards. These secondary standards address aesthetic
issues such as taste, odor, and color. As a result, the City is planning to construct a water treatment
facility to remove excess iron and manganese from the municipal water supply.
Prior Lake has always placed a high priority on the safety of the municipal water supply system. In
order to safeguard the municipal water supply system, the City strictly limits access to their
municipal wells and associated infrastructure to the City's Public Works staff.
3.1.3 DWSMAs
Current land uses within the DWSMAs include manufacturing, residential, industrial, commercial,
parks and recreation, and vacant/undeveloped. Some of the Prior Lake municipal wells and a portion
of the eastern DWSMA have been classified as vulnerable to contamination. Thus, current and future
land use could potentially affect the management strategies for Prior Lake's eastern DWSMA. No
issues, problems, or opportunities, other than the potential contaminant sources previously discussed,
have been identified regarding land uses in the DWSMAs.
Information gathered for this Plan provides the City with the basis for tracking potential contaminant
sources within the DWSMAs. Thus, the City has an opportunity to catalog and track potential
contaminant sources and stay informed of land use changes or potential future threats to the source
water aquifers.
A portion of the eastern DWSMA extends into Credit River and Spring Lake Townships. The City of
Prior Lake will work with these townships, to the extent practicable, to establish requirements
regarding management of that portion of the DWSMA.
The presence of privately owned wells within the DWSMAs provides a potential pathway for
contaminants to reach the source water aquifer if they are not properly constructed, maintained, or, if
unused, sealed. Wells of unknown depth or construction within the DWSMAs may provide a
potential pathway for contaminants to enter the source water aquifers. Locations of wells (both
active and sealed) identified within the DWSMAs are shown on Figure 10.
P:\Mpls\23 MN\70\2370189 Prior lake WHPP Part 2\WorkFiles\PL Part 2 WHP Plan.doc
29
3.2 Issues, Problems, and Opportunities Disclosed at Public
Meetings and in Written Comments
At the beginning of the wellhead protection process, the City of Prior Lake sent a notification to
other local units of government of its intention to initiate work on wellhead and source water
protection efforts. After approval by the MDH, Prior Lake sent copies of the Part I report (i.e., Part
I of the Plan) to the affected local units of government. To date, the City has not been informed of
any issues, problems, or opportunities by the local units of government. Since one of the DWSMAs
associated with the Prior Lake municipal wells extends into Credit River Township and Spring Lake
Township, the City will be working with representatives of these townships, to the extent practicable,
to develop procedures that are consistent with this Plan for managing that portion of the eastern
DWSMA that extends into the townships.
The City of Prior Lake also held a public hearing to receive any comments from the general public
regarding Part 1 of the Plan. To date, the City has not received any communications of issues,
problems, or opportunities related to the wellhead protection process from the general public.
3.3 Issues, Problems, and Opportunities Related to the Data
Elements
Beginning with the WHPA delineations (i.e., Part 1 of the Plan) and continuing in this document, the
required data elements have been addressed. Available local and regional information was used in
compiling and assessing the data elements. Prior Lake intends to continue collecting data from the
municipal wells and other applicable information during the life of this Plan. At a minimum, this
Plan will be revised/updated every 10 years, as required by the Wellhead Protection Rules. Each
time this Plan is revised/updated the most recent and accurate data available will be used.
As.discussed above in Section 1.5.3, the proximity of the Savage Fen to the City of Prior Lake
requires that potential impacts to the Fen from pumping be considered as the municipal water supply
system expands in the future. Potential adverse impacts on the Savage Fen could affect the quantity
of water available to Prior Lake from the Jordan Sandstone aquifer in the future. Therefore, the City
of Prior Lake is working with the MDNR to determine what, if any, affect future increases in
pumping from Prior Lake municipal water supply system may have on the Savage Fen.
P:\Mpls\23 MN\70\2370189 Prior lake WHPP Part 2\WorkFiles\PL Part 2 WHP Plan.doc
30
3.4 Issues, Problems, and Opportunities Related to local, State,
and Federal Programs and Regulations
The City of Prior Lake will implement a public education program regarding wellhead and source
water protection for landowners within the DWSMAs. State and local units of government currently
enforce land use ordinances, zoning laws, sewer ordinances, well permitting regulations, and
groundwater use appropriation permit regulations. The City will work with Credit River and Spring
Lake Townships, to the extent practicable, to ensure proper management of the portion ofthe eastern
DWSMA that extends into these townships. It is anticipated that local issues will be adequately
addressed through these existing processes and adoption of best management practices.
P:\Mpls\23 MN\70\2370189 Prior lake WHPP Part 2\WorkFiles\PL Part 2 WHP Plan.doc
31