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CASE # COMPREHENSIVE WATER SYSTEM STUDY By: Steve Jankowski, City Engineer Background: Every water utility should be reviewed periodically to assess its capabilities for delivering safe and adequate water to its customer. For developing water utilities such as ours this need is perhaps greater than for established utilities as there can be many alternatives to consider in sizing major water lines and locating wells and reservoir structures. A study for Ramsey's watcr system was performed in 1981, which was three years prior to the construction of the system. Although some elements of the system bear a resemblance to the plan shown in this document, much of the watermain sizing and placement varies from that shown in the plan. Within the last four years, the water system has experienced a growth in customers to the point that customer use is approaching the utilities' firm well capacity, the amount of water that can be supplied with the largest producing well out of service. The City's lowest producing well could pump 350 gallons per minute or 504,000 gallons per day. The utility presently has 504 customers having an estimated average day demand of 161,000 gallons. However, last summer's peak to average day water was 3.8, so that we might expect a peak day demand of 612,000 gallons from our current customers which would exceed our f'nm well capacity. However, initiating an odd-even day sprinkling ban together with the storage capacity of the elevated tank would probably reduce the peak to average day ratio to 3.0 and allow us to meet the demand this summer. Nonetheless, the above discussion underlies the need to initiate planning at this time so the necessary improvements can be planned to meet the needs in 1994. In addition to supply needs, a comprehensive study also addresses the system's £rre protection capacity. Without proper planning, piecemeal consmaction can result in either undersized or oversized facilities. Either condition is very costly since a watermain that is too large is not fully utilized, while a main that is too small will eventually have to be paralleled or replaced. The study would also address water quality issues including those that may arise in response to recent or pending legislation. t am proposing the selection of a consultant to provide a comprehensive study through the following process: Survey neighboring and similar communities for experience with their comprehensive plan providm's. b) Send a Request for Proposal to qualified firms requesting a detailed work plan, resumes of key personnel who would be: assigned to the study, and a not-to-exceed cost for the study. : c) Provide an opportunity for the consultant to meet with City Staff to discuss our unique system and most acute needs. d) Present a summary of proposals to the City Council with a recommendation for consultant selection.