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DEC-01-'94 THU 09:16 ID:METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TEL NO:612/291-6550 tt192 P08 e e WBStcWatcr treatment f.~ilily. The phaJe out was completed in May, 1993 and all new connection restrictions have been lifted. Wastewater now is now conveyed through the CAB Interceptor to the Metropolitan Treatment Plant in St. Paul for treatment and discharge into the Mississippi River. Suftlclent capacity exists in each of the metropolitan interceptors providing service to the city of Ramsey to acoommodate alllhe city's planned growth through 2010. The city's rural transition and rural service areas have already undergone extensive development in single family reaidences. The majority of these residences are on lots ranging in size from one to two and one-half Bcrea. Cu~tJy there are over 4,100 households In the dty. Less tho 10 pe...at of.... households art located within Ole current MUSA and receive DllIJIldpal laDltary sewer semce. The remalnlna3,600+ households are served by Individual oD-.lte .epUc 118te..s. While the city did change its rural development policy in 1990 to preclude further ~Iopment at densities in excess of four units per 40 acres, there are 8 sIgnificant number of lots of record in the city'. rural and rural transition areas that will develop at higher density. The city's Comprehensive Sewer Plan states that municipal trunk sanitary sewers will be sized large enough to ultimately provide collective sewer selVice to the entire rural transition area, but that there are currently no plans or proposals to extend collective sewer service into the area until some point beyond the year 2010 planning period. The city of Ramsey is located In an area identified regionally as the Anoka sand plain where soils have been characterized as sandy and rapidly permeable, and are known to be susceptible-to possible contamination of underground water supplies when allowed to develop through the utiJization of on-site septic systems. The city has developed an extensln portloa of Its area utlllzlDI D.-site systems while relying on over 3,600 property owners for the determlaaUoD of each .ystem" IDteartty. The CouDcll stall' Is concerDed about relIance on self-Inspectlo.. by clUlens lor solids removal and total system Intearlty. Council Wastewater Treatment and Handling Policy Plan (Policy Plan) policy 1-2 states that on-site &ewage disposal systems are appropriate to serve single family residences at development dell5itics of four units per 40 Beres or less, if governments plan for them and adopt a management and control syst~m consistent with federal and state laws and Council guideJlnes. On-lite sewage disposal systems are not suited for urban development densities. A post-installation inspection program is necessary to insure on-site systems are operated properly to prevent system failures which would result In groundwater contamination. Council stair II not aware of any community In tbe metropolitan area that contains . greaater (Oneentratlon 01 Individual o.-slte systems. To avoid unplanned, premature extension of municipal or metropolitan sanitary sewers Bnd municipal water to areas of past development in the rural and rural transition areas oC the city, Councll staff recommends that the city modify its on-site system management program and ordinances to incorporate all facets of the Council's standards for proper design, location, installation, maintenance and on-soing monitoring of on-site systems. Program modifications need to include the requirement that all on-site systems in the city be inspected at least biennially by an individual certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and licensed by the city or county to promote uniformity and 8 higher degree of environmental protection. The city has with this submission presented a summary of the policies and strategies it has in place to prevent and reduce excess levels of inflow and Infiltration in its local sanitary sewer system. In addition, the city has presented a summary of the circumstances under which private 7