Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 02/10/2020

Home

treatment system. He did not believe that the DNR would require an additional pilot study or deny the request of Ramsey to drill another well. Board Member Hiatt asked how many cities are currently drawing surface water from the Mississippi, other than Minneapolis and St. Cloud. City Engineer Westby stated that there are additional cities utilizing surface water treatment but was unsure if there were any located between St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Board Member Hiatt asked if there is a model of other cities along the Mississippi that work together on a regional surface water treatment system. He noted that the City could use that information for its study. City Engineer Westby stated that the consultant is reviewing governance models used by others that share a water treatment facility and noted that he would remind the consultant of those examples. Board Member Hiatt asked if there is potential to perhaps drill in the northern part of the City. City Engineer Westby explained that the aquafer disappears as you move north and west in the City. He stated that a well siting study will need to be done each time the City needs to drill a well. Board Member Fetterley asked if there are concerns that the surface water study would show favorable and that the DNR could then deny the City's ability to drill another well in 2023. City Engineer Westby stated that he does not have any concerns that the DNR would use the study results to pressure the City to switch to surface water but would instead show that the City has researched that option. He stated that he anticipates that the cost to change to surface water treatment would be prohibitive and therefore the DNR would not/could not force the City to take that route. He stated that the City has been collecting and saving funds for a groundwater treatment facility and therefore there are funds available in the water utility fund for that purpose. Board Member Covart stated that it appears the life of a water treatment facility is about 50 years and asked the lifespan of a well. City Engineer Westby stated that the City is getting good use of its wells. He noted that there are some maintenance items such as pump replacement, but the well itself lasts a long time. He stated that the City began punching wells in 1984 and they have served the City well and continue to do so. Board Member Moore stated that it appears the City is also looking for future potential contaminates in these studies and asked if the issue of manganese is also included as an issue, specifically how the City can treat that to open the other wells. City Engineer Westby confirmed that is a part of the second study the City is completing on its own. He noted that the City is attempting to identify as much as it can in terms of possible future contaminates to be prepared for the future. Environmental Policy Board / January 13, 2020 Page 3 of 7