Agenda - Council - 05/27/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-190- Ramsey Town Center AUAR 4 March 14, 2003 Environmental Services Department Comments Water Use (Section/Item 13)--With the discussion of the City's water supply system and potential contaminant sources, this section should include discussion of the vulnerability of the City's wells and wellhead protection areas. The Minnesota Department of Health has determined that Ramsey wells 1 and 2 are not vulnerable to contamination and wells 3 and 4 are vulnerable to contamination. A formal well vulnerability assessment has not been completed for Well 5. We believe that Ramsey well 5 will also be classified as vulnerable to contamination. When the 1 O-year time of travel capture zone is determined for well 5 we believe that the wellhead protection area will be extended to the south. It is our opinion that the AUAR has not provided adequate emphasis on the fact that this site is located within a City wellhead protection area. That the City is in the process of preparing and implementing a plan to protect the immediate groundwater resources used for public drinking water supply. Recommendations: 1. Discussion of the well vulnerability and wellhead protection area vulnerability should be included in this section and its impact on development of the site. However, this section should not preempt the wellhead protection planning or program activities of the City by addressing potential contaminant sources as a means to protect the City's water supply wells. 2, The AUAR should determine whether additional municipal wells are planned for the site. If additional wells are planned on, or near, the site the AUAR should address this. 3. The AUAR should discuss the timeline and necessity Of determining the vulnerability of Ramsey well 5 and its potential impact on development within this site. Geologic Hazards and Soil Conditions (Section/Item 19) The AUAR does not accurately summarize this information. The shallow water table, non-continuous clay layer, shallow bedrock valleys, and (especially) the elevated tritium levels in the City wells indicate that shallow groundwater contamination will reach the City wells. In fact, the MDH has determined that'Ramsey wells 3 and 4 are vulnerable to shallow groundwater contamination (Steve Robertson, MDH Hydrologist, 651-215-1322) and requires the City to address all potential contaminant sources in its wellhead protection plan (Art Persons, MDH Planner, 507-292-5138). This does not mean that a leaking underground storage, tank would likely cause the water from the City well to rapidly become unfit to drink. It means that in a system to unifonrdy evaluate the vulnerability of public water supply wells - Ramsey wells 3 and 4 require more attention to contaminant sources than other wells. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I