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groundwater level is close to the surface. It is staff's opinion that an infiltration pit will not work on this site because <br />there is not any storage volume between the bottom of the pit and the top of the ground water. <br />The solution for any of these areas will be extensive and will set precedent for the City to follow in future years. <br />Staff contacted several of our neighboring cities and was informed that none of them have experienced such issues <br />to the order of magnitude that Ramsey has, and that if they have they have usually been able to address the issue <br />with minimal expense using gravity sewers or by pumping the water to a nearby location where the water can then <br />be removed via storm sewer or culverts and ditches. <br />The only options that staff is aware of to effectively address such issues include installing gravity storm sewer to <br />pipe the water to a lower elevation, installing storm sewer lift stations to pump the water to higher elevations where <br />it can then flow by gravity via sewers or ditches to lower elevations, pumping the water using a portable pump and <br />flexible hosing to another location where it can then flow by gravity via sewers or ditches to lower elevations, or <br />promoting infiltration by constructing infiltration basins, ponds or trenches. <br />Attached is a copy of the drawing provided to staff by Mr. Full. While the use of such infiltration basins could be <br />one of the more cost-effective means of removing standing surface water, not to mention the benefits that would be <br />realized by helping to replenish our aquifers, this is not a viable option in most low-lying areas as the ground water <br />is typically high and will not allow infiltration to occur. That said, such basins may be useful in other areas so staff <br />will keep this as a tool in our tool box as they would be relatively inexpensive to construct and would assist in <br />removing standing water in the spring when the ground is frozen as noted by Mr. Full. Staff estimates the cost to <br />construct such a basin to be in the neighborhood of $3,000, but this cost will depend on the amount of turf <br />restoration that is needed due to the damage caused by the construction equipment, whether any clearing and <br />grubbing is needed, and whether any soil borings are needed to determine the elevation of the groundwater, which <br />is typically variable throughout the year. <br />Unfortunately, it is typically not an option to use a portable pump and hose to pump water elsewhere in Ramsey due <br />to the relatively flat terrain and extensive distance between grade breaks. The other options typically require <br />installing thousands of feet of sewer and purchasing numerous easement areas, and/or installing lift stations, all of <br />which would cost well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) to complete per area. <br />Staff is not aware of any government sponsored programs aimed at assisting homeowners with enhancing their <br />private sump pump/drain tile systems. Numerous property owners who have contacted staff in years past did not <br />have back-up sump pumps in the event their primary pump failed, which resulted in their home being flooded. <br />Private systems can also be enhanced by adding battery back-up in the event their power fails for an extended <br />duration. Staff will continue to explore whether programs exist for assisting property owners with such system <br />enhancements. <br />Funding Source: <br />Staff review of the the alternatives has been part of the routine assignments. <br />Recommendation: <br />Staff recommends bringing the information forward to the City Council for discussion at a future work session to <br />discuss the precedent setting implications of moving forward with any of these projects. <br />Action: <br />No action is required, but staff would appreciate any feedback or direction on this matter that the Committee can <br />offer. <br />Attachments <br />Overall Map <br />