Agenda - Council - 08/11/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

August 11, 2015 Attn: Lanya Ross Metropolitan Council 390 Robert Street N Saint Paul, MN 55101 7550 Sunwood Drive NW • Ramsey, MN 55303 City Hall: 763.427.1410 • Fax: 763.427.5543 www.cityoframsey.com Re: City of Ramsey Response to Draft 2015 Master Water Supply Plan Dear Lanya: Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the draft 2015 Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Master Water Supply Plan (MWSP). The City of Ramsey offers the following responses for your consideration. The City of Ramsey fully supports the Master Water Supply Plan's single overarching goal of achieving a sustainable water supply system for the region, both now and into the future. However, the City feels strongly that such sustainability must be achieved in an equitable manner through the development and use of regional water supply partnerships. Considering that regional water supply partnerships can be difficult and time consuming to develop, particularly when led by local agencies, we respectfully request that the Metropolitan Council consider actively supporting an effort to analyze the viability of regional partnerships from both service and funding perspectives. The City of Ramsey utilizes groundwater for our water supply needs, though surface water from the Mississippi River could also be utilized. However, as the draft 2015 MWSP acknowledges, investing in surface water treatment plants requires many millions of dollars. And to convert a groundwater supply system to a surface water supply system would result in even greater costs, which the City of Ramsey could not possibly afford on our own. The City of Ramsey appreciates the recognition in the draft 2015 MWSP that most cities across the twin cities metropolitan area utilize groundwater as their principal water supply source, and that these cities have invested millions of dollars in existing infrastructure which should continue to be leveraged in future water supply plans. We also appreciate that the draft 2015 MWSP recognizes the need to maintain existing groundwater supply systems for supplemental or emergency water supply needs, such as if pollutants are released into surface waters triggering the temporary shutdown of surface water supply facilities. It is our mission to work together to responsibly grow our community, and to provide quality, cost-effective, and efficient government services.