Laserfiche WebLink
Executive Summary <br />2012 City of Ramsey Topsoil Evaluation <br />By: Departments of Community Development, <br />Engineering, and Public Works <br />Two decades ago, analysis of Ramsey's municipal water pumping demand found that on <br />average, fully one -half of all drinking water pumped annually is used for lawn irrigation <br />during the growing season. What's more, during the irrigation season, demand for water <br />production is three times the amount needed for domestic use within that same month. <br />140,000,000 <br />120,000,000 <br />100,000,000 <br />80,000,000 <br />60,000,000 <br />40,000,000 <br />20,000,000 <br />0 <br />January <br />February <br />Monthly Municipal Water Production Totals <br />(Million Gallons) <br />March <br />April <br />May <br />June <br />1 <br />July August September October November December <br />2013 <br />2012 <br />2011 <br />Water conservation is imperative to keep utility customers' costs contained by reducing the need <br />for more water wells and associated water treatment and distribution facilities. <br />The housing boom years, with its impact on the demand for more groundwater for irrigation, <br />caused the MN DNR to increase scrutiny on municipalities and limit the permitting of new deep <br />water wells into the area's aquifers. Ramsey faced this challenge of increasing demand, while <br />both seeing and forecasting water supply limitations. In 2007, the city implemented a Tiered <br />Water Rate, whereby commercial and residential customers are charged a higher rate per <br />thousand gallons after 15,000 gallons in any billing quarter. <br />In a two -prong strategy to conserve water, following the Tiered Water Rate implementation, <br />City Council adopted an Ordinance requiring a high organic topsoil, in the amount of four (4) <br />inches, be applied across all disturbed areas of new construction projects. <br />The above discussion, together with the topsoil's cost implication for new construction, made <br />apparent that an accurate experiment to qualitatively and quantitatively measure how effective <br />the topsoil requirement is, should be conducted to justify the topsoil's specifications. <br />North Commons (park and community garden) was chosen as the site for four (4) equally sized <br />test plots to measure the precise irrigation demand for different topsoil applications. <br />