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<br />~ <br /> <br />," <br /> <br />t. <br /> <br />Anoka County <br />Community Health and <br />Environmental Service Department <br />(BF Biernat) <br /> <br />Comments Regarding: <br />City of Ramsey - Wellhead Protection Plan <br />(May 2009) <br /> <br />June 9, 2009 <br /> <br />The. Anoka County Community Health and Environmental Services Department offers the <br />following comments regarding the City of Ramsey Wellhead Protection Plan hereinafter referred <br />to as the Plan. The Plan and accompanying memo (from Steven Jankowski, Asst. City <br />Engineer) indicates that the document is a draft provided to the County for a sixty (60) day local <br />government review and comment period that ends August 11, 2009. These comments are <br />offered to Mr. Jankowski to provide the City with additional (possibly alternative) planning views <br />that may enhance their Plan. <br /> <br />GENERAL COMMENTS <br /> <br />The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has expressed concerned that Ramsey's <br />exclusive and increasing use of the Franconia"lronton-Galesville bedrock aquifer has the <br />potential to exceed the aquifer's capacity. Also, increasing groundwater withdrawal may result <br />in lowering the water table and surface water features (e.g. Lake Itasca). <br /> <br />We note that the Plan indicates that the City is investigating utilizing the Mississippi River water <br />to supplement its system of eight wells: "The Utility is investigating the possibility of utilizing the <br />Mississippi River' as a source to supplement both City and regional drinking water needs and <br />has included a water treatment plant... in it[s] Five. Year Capital Improvement Plan" (page 10). <br /> <br />The discussion of a regional water supply system, using the Mississippi River, is premature and <br />. beyond the scope of this wellhead protection plan unless the City is part of a regional water <br />supply organization that is developing (or has developed) a Mississippi River source water <br />protection program. However, the discussion of developing a protection plan for the Mississippi <br />River concurrent with the development of a municipal surface water supply system should be <br />included because both plans have the same goals. <br /> <br />When a Mississippi River water supply system is constructed - does the City intend to expand <br />its wellhead protection plan to address the protection of its surface water source or will a <br />separate plan be developed? <br /> <br />Discussion of a future municipal (or regional) water supply system utilizing the Mississippi River <br />is beyond the scope of the Department's review of this Plan. The City has not provided <br />sufficient information regarding the planned construction, use and operation of a Mississippi <br />River water supply system. However, we note that regional water supply systems are currently <br />operating inside Anoka County (Minneapolis Water Works and St. Paul Regional Water <br />Services) providing water to numerous municipal utilities include Columbia Heights and Hilltop. <br />Did the City's investigation into supplemental water supply include utilizing the existing regional <br />supply systems? <br /> <br />Also, a new regional water supply system for Anoka County municipalities represents a <br />significant regional facility with potential public health impacts. The Community Health arid <br />Environmental Services (CHES) Department is currently preparing a Water Resource report that <br />will be included in the County's Comprehensive Health Services Plan. The City is encourage to <br />