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5.5. ERMUSR 03-18-2014 Elk River Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING TO: FROM: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Eric Volk - Water Superintendent John Dietz—Chair Al Nadeau— Vice Chair Daryl Thompson—Trustee MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: March 18, 2014 5.5 SUBJECT: Frozen Water Services BACKGROUND: Elk River, like the rest of the Upper Midwest, is having an unprecedented amount of frozen water service lines and even frozen water mains. To date we have had 41 services freeze and 2 water mains freeze. There are 5 services that will be frozen until the ground thaws and the service thaws in the spring. Those residents are currently being fed by garden hose from one of their neighbors. One of the water mains that is frozen is a private main serving Pearle Vision. We hooked Pearle Vision up to the hydrant out in front of the building. The water main at 8`h St and Gates Ave froze up leaving 4 residents out of water. We ran a fire hose from the apartments on Freeport St to the hydrant at the dead end on 8`h St. By hooking up the two hydrants, we were able to back feed into the water main to two of the residents. We were able to hook up the other resident to the neighbor next door. DISCUSSION: The water department has been informing residents to check the temperature of their water. If the temperature is below 40 degrees then the resident is being given the choice of running a pencil width stream of water 24 hours a day. If the resident chooses this option, staff has been informing them that they will only be billed at the first tier and we will average their sewer charges using the months that they did not run water continuously. For residents that have had their services freeze up, we inform them of some plumbers we are aware of that thaw frozen services. After the line is thawed, they will also have to run their water continuously. We are billing them at the first tier and averaging their sewer rates using the months they were not running their water continuously. For the handful of residents that are out of service due to our water main being frozen or their water service can't be thawed are being billed for the water they used in the same month in 2013. We will average those residents' sewer rates on the months before their service froze. Those residents do have water from an alternate source(i.e. neighbor, hydrant). For the kind neighbors who have so graciously allowed us to supply others with water from their house, they will be billed for the water they used in the same month in 2013. We will average those residents' sewer rates on the months before they were hooked up to their neighbor. .,' INATURE Page 1 of t Reliable Public Power Provider P OWERED To SERVE 60 ATTACHMENTS: • Article from the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, Frozen water pipes keep suburbs busy. • Multiple articles from the League of Minnesota Cities,The Pipeline. • Article from Jerry Luden, Metro Operations Supervisor, St. Paul Regional Water Services. POWERED DY ' Page 2 oft (NATURE Reliable Public Power Provider POWERED To SERVE 61 StarTribune- Print Page Page 1 of 1 *StarTribune Frozen water pipes keep suburbs busy Article by Jim Adams Star Tribune f� February 17,2014-1.51 AM a . Utility workers in the Twin Cities are putting in a lot of cold hours 'y • 4:.• fixing water lines frozen or cracked by the frigid weather that has -."x x" -' gripped the area since early December More than 40 days of subzero lows have taken a toll on water systems,freezing pipes in Eagan,Bloomington,Richfield,New Hope,Plymouth and Anoka,among other cities.Public works crews have found frost piercing deep enough to freeze inch-thick service lines under streets and,in some cases,to plague much wider pipes 7 or 8 feet beneath road surfaces. On a sunny but bitter day last week,lead worker Fawn Kinsman endured minus-8 windchills as her crew spent about three hours patching a broken 8-inch-wide iron water main under East River Road in Coon Rapids. "It's been a very unusual year for frozen water lines.Kinsman said. In St.Louis Park,Utility Superintendent Jay Hall said the city has seen more service line freeze-ups than in typical winters. Hall is a leader with the Suburban Utility Superintendents Association and says its website has been humming with members seeking and offering advice on how to handle frozen lines that connect to city water mains. In Minneapolis,many homeowners have had frozen water pipes,but the city hasn't experienced an unusual number of frozen municipal pipes.That may be because city mains are large and buried 8 feet deep,said city spokesman Casper Hill. In other places,such as Bloomington,"This has been an extremely tough year,"said Utility Superintendent Bob Cockriel.He said last week that Bloomington crews had fixed 10 broken mains and dozens of frozen service lines and found frost reaching down 7 feet. "That is really,really deep,"Cockriel said,especially when most water pipes are 7 or 8 feet underground.He noted that frozen pipes are often found beneath bare streets,not under snow-covered lawns,which insulate the ground. "Traffic pounds the frost down to the pipes...and impacts water service lines,"Cockriel said.He said the cold also descends through catch basins and shallow stormwater pipes that carry frigid air below ground. Cockriel said the last time Bloomington had such frequent problems was the winter of 1977-78,when about 160 service lines froze and some water mains froze solid. Another problem Many mains in New Hope and parts of neighboring Plymouth suffer another cold-weather hazard'clay in the soil.Last week a broken 12-inch main closed Armstrong High School in Plymouth. Clay absorbs moisture and freezes solid around pipes.So when frost pushes a pipe against the clay,"it makes the pipe snap,"said Bernie Weber,New Hope utilities supervisor.He said clay is acidic,which corrodes and causes pipe bolts to fail. Weber said more than 20 water mains,from 6 to 12 inches in diameter,have cracked and been repaired since Nov.1,more than in most years. Coon Rapids crews have handled more than 30 frozen,inch-thick copper service lines so far,after none in the past two winters.said utilities operation supervisor Rick Bednar.He noted the city has advised all homeowners,especially those whose lines have frozen,to consider letting one faucet'trickle"around the clock to avoid freeze-ups for the rest of winter. Other cities,including Fridley and St.Louis Park,suggest that homeowners who have had frozen pipes take similar action. Fridley has warned residents that discolored tap water may be the first indicator of service line freeze-ups,which may be prevented by letting a faucet trickle,said Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar. "It's scary,"Bednar said.He said crews have worked almost nonstop in recent weeks.He noted he's seen frozen ground 6 to 8 feet deep that has cracked about seven water mains so far,several more than in most winters. "I expect more when the frost comes out[moving earth around pipes]after being down so deep,"he added.He said the city often teams about frozen lines from homeowners who call'when they wake up in the mornings and find out they don't have water." Jim Adams•612-673-7658 C 2014 star Tneune http://www.startribune.com/printarticle/?id=24569311 2/20/2014 The Pipeline: A Minnesota Public Works Connection: Sanitary sewers and frozen water li... Page 1 of 2 q'Shea More Next Bloge Create Blog Sign In THE PIPELINF rtnuue.'`! -A MINNESOTA=PUBLIC WORKS-CONNECTION MINNESOTA r 1 r �I • • �1 c �7k. � ,yam P • uh Y.sY �vl'/•y.s.M'..s}'t Home Author Bios Search Sanitary sewers and frozen water Mites What goes around comes around So why are wewutieg ablog anW+av°Read here to fine out dr r,.. ..r � ri .� i-I .a.. s.City workers battling frozen pipes wnif t , ins .i LMC Pipeline r y5 ..N_ . May:; �• - "'. _r- View my complete profile Join this site Member.(4) LMCIT's litigation attorney,Jack Mennen had these comments - since n • 2014. ✓ March • February.. • January • 2013 • 2012 http://Imcpipeline.blogspot.com/2014/03/sanitary-sewers-and-frozen-water.htmI 3/10/2014 The Pipeline: A Minnesota Public Works Connection: What cities may say to residents w... Page 1 of 3 g+Share More Next Slop Create Blog Sign In THE PIPELINF 1 , 1,1 .,,;„„b A -MINNESOTA PUBLIC WORKS CONNECTION hAINNIFEOTA CITIES ;et crk:t fir f . • ••,•,- • ; , •A 04111its___ . . , • Home Author Bios Search What Cities may say to reskients olin home tryzen water lines By LMCI I Control so why are we writing a Clog anyway?Read here to tilt!out The continuing subzero cold weather has caused an unprecedented number of water line freeze-ups in mco norm ,t-OP t curio; gad Hi rt, , I (1`,LIf 01;1 1,./1` MIMIletiOld HCH,i,10- are( ill it I ay it too (1,1Jr( I,'Int,issue! 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Page 2 of 3 ,Joni.der compiling a list of n anpanies that deal with hman war I.her, Lai ■ 201313,' I h tt;1 the vLebste o, ,n city halt net as a ter ethnic cndation het simply as s Liam ahol I • 2012 i I:s arm:an echo att. the pr f ty rnvnet tu he .,ware, l I nlcnde,l r s _r . If (Quist' .n.1 1 awing wai:i lilies p a i l l c u l a i l y i t Lsng a l l r let tnr.al t...ittldt,r H A I idy f re,explosion damage'1 applianres a, I elei.tronu s and the p i slbilily of d.,mace lit atilt: properly owner t, the case of stray elecrr cal r'urreol • :di, lied the property WTI I lit'it Int If Elite conlia I till Is uslny a LI In21 ,a1 levn.e me nulo.turen spt fir Any to thaw how war.', Ines S,gl]CS1 the rttsldent(ft!, mum.-if the .onhactor IS ulsurd It the City Idols :ontpelleu to 11,4 1)prrrpeny Lten,els that,tl' If poihan cl the hoe Ilavi Ilse city anti' ley draft a waive, to he shined by the property ownipr If a city wants to develop a policy here is an idea of some points to cover. Work with your city attorney to draft this policy. Definition of service level priorities of service and procedures for thawing of frozen service laterals Policy Statement f r vii p t vvir, (:�.1)ail ti. ooi N 4 vSte_ r _i qb.. h ,I•+ ;eL.hr( _ f of 1 1 sr... .OPTIONAL] 0 r -- r.-i I LMC Pipeline 3L1 http://lmcpipeline.blogspot.com/2014/02/what-citi emay-say-to-residents-who.html 3/10/2014 The Pipeline: A Minnesota Public Works Connection: Dealing with Frozen Water Lines? ... Page I of 2 g,share More Next Biog. Create Slog Sign In THE PIPELINF 1.---hr-H- 15.1,-r„ 1 A_MINNESOTA PUBLIC WORKS CONNECTION - ._ -- MINNESOTA CITiEs : , 4.er . -',24• - i.. ,;" -(if 22 2- -I' # - r e e-- - -.-1;i rt.,■•■■...e..,e 1_ te. I 1 ' , ( = -- ..1. . 4:,.., ,'-' - I --"` . --- Ar...01k1":4 :,, .4''i t .,.. , „. , .. '4' - ."- .............m.? -4 1113-.4.1.-4.2-344 Home Author Bios Search Dealrn- witn Frozen Water l oreq' Don Lut use elect ourount to thaw the Hors So why are we wrung a Slog - ,- -- anyway>Read here to find out ...At LMC Pipelme _ .. 1 1 ,.J., .. . F F1 MIMIIIN/Naa_.ee ,e I'dn'hi . o tintli .4 Ie ■ View my complete profile ,, IF Join tit SO 0 Vlerntnes(41 Alternative Method(hot water pulse IndC111/10) at .L .11. 3inn in '''. "..\ 1 • 0 Ft t • March • February 1 .191-;!1. V January IF j Conducting a Footwear - Hazard Assessment .-. 11 QIF . 2 • 2013 , • 2012 • 65 hup://lincpipeline.blogspot.com/20 I 4/0 I/deal ing-witn-frozen-water-lines-do-n ot.h unl 3/10/2014 Nelson, Jennie From: Ludden,Jerry(C1-StPaul) <jerry.ludden @ci.stpaul.mn.us> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 1:55 PM To: Jay Hall; A Sullivan;Andy Allmann; Andy Hamilton;Andy Weldon; annika.bankston @minneapolismn.gov; Belle Plaine; Bernie Weber; Bob Cockriel; Brett Martinson; Brian Skok; Bruce Berthiaume; btracy @goldenvalleymn.gov; Carol Blommel; Carol Kaszynski; Wrightson, Chad (C1-StPaul); Charlie Borash; Chris Petree; Chuck Almhjeld;Craig Carlson; D.J. Goman; Dale Reed; Dan Hansen; Dan Helling; Daniel Curley; Dave Goergen; Horvath, Dave; Dave Lemke; Dave Wisdorf; Ludden, Dolly (CI- StPaul); Doug Anderson; Doug Bode; Doug Lien; Doug Neid; Doug Peterson; Duane Schneider; Duane Schwartz; Eric Kramer;Volk, Eric; Gary Wells; Glen Gerads; Greg Cook; J. orgensenk;Jay Morgan;Jeff Nyland;jeffrey.radick @ci.burnsville.mn.us;Jerry Roehl; Jim Eibensteiner;Jim Hauth;Jim Jones;Jim Malone;Jim Sadler;Jim Sweeney;Joe Dusek;Joe Wokson; Joel Bona;John Carlson;John Laumann;John Lind; John Nelson; Jon Eaton;Jon Watson;Justin Wagner; Kelley Janes; Ken Seurer; Kevin Carlson; Kevin Chmielewski; Kevin Crooks; Kevin Horgan; Larsen, Larry (C1-StPaul); Larry Revering; Lauren Mcclanahan; Linda Mullen; Lon Schemel; marie.asgian @minneapolismn.gov; Mark Hartfiel; Mark Nelson; Mark Peine; Matt Haefner; Matt Rowedder; Michael Comeans; Michael Khmers; Michael Ulrich; Mike Bramwell; Paul Coone; Paul Teicher; Davis, Peter(C1-StPaul); Pete Klingenberg; Pete Tholen;Zollinger, Phil (CI-StPaul); Randy Kloepper; Ray Hanson; Richard Luckow; Rick Whalen; Robert Hintgen; Russ Lupkes; Scott Merkley; Scott Newberg; Shawn Nelson; Steve Gilberg; Terry Neumann; Tim Caruso;tpletcher @eminnetonka.com Subject RE: Guest speaker for tomorrow's SUSA meeting To All: SPRWS posted some FAQs regarding frozen services on our website, I hope this is helpful. I've heard that water pipes are freezing due to the weather and that I should run my water to keep the pipes from freezing. Is that true? It depends. Most water service lines(pipes)going into the home are not going to freeze. About 400 pipes have frozen out of 94,000 accounts or less than one half of one percent of all homes in our service area. However, predicting which ones will and won't freeze is difficult in weather such as ours. If the water service line to your home has frozen in the recent past,either in your property or in the street,you will have received a letter from us. If there is a chance of the water line freezing, why not just tell everyone to run their water? Because the chance is less than one half a percent that it will happen. We want to conserve precious water resources and keep our prices low for our customers, most of whom will not be affected by a frozen water line this winter. Running water unnecessarily will cost our customers an additional $100 a month to prevent an event that is unlikely to occur. How do I know if I should run my water to keep my pipes from freezing? Either you should have been contacted in a letter from SPRWS or your pipes have already frozen once this season and you are being asked by SPRWS to keep the lines open by running water. In these cases,you will not be charged for water used. 67 • You can always choose to run your water for your own peace of mind. However,you will be charged for the water used if you choose to run water on your own. • Run your cold water at a rate of one gallon every four minutes—about the stream width of a pencil. • This averages about 15 units of water a month. With combined water and sewer rates in Saint Paul, this could be $100 a month more in charges. • The water used will be charged to the property owner or tenant. Keep in mind,out of 94,000 accounts,about 400(or less than one half of one percent) have frozen this season. The water at my faucet seems almost freezing. Should I be running my water? You can always choose to run your cold water as a preventative measure. If a homeowner or tenant chooses to run the water,they are responsible for those water and sewer charges. • Run your cold water at a rate of one gallon every four minutes—about the stream width of a pencil. • This averages about 15 units of water a month. With combined water and sewer rates in Saint Paul, this could be $100 a month more in charges. • The water used will be charged to the property owner or tenant. Keep in mind,out of 94,000 accounts about 400,or less than one half of one percent, have frozen this season. My neighbor's pipes froze and I don't want that to happen to me. What can I do? You can choose to run your water. If a homeowner or tenant chooses to run the water,they are responsible for those water and sewer charges. • Run your cold water at a rate of one gallon every four minutes—about the stream width of a pencil. • This averages about 15 units of water a month. With combined water and sewer rates in Saint Paul, this could be $100 a month more in charges. The water used will be charged to the property owner or tenant. How do you know if my pipes have frozen in the past? We have records of frozen water services going back to 1994 and the last, large scale freezing of water lines that we experienced. We are using those records and reported frozen water lines(pipes)to create mailing lists. My house never had frozen pipes before this year. Why did my pipes freeze now? Water service lines(pipes) are down into the ground 6.5 to 7.5 feet. Right now,frost is down into the ground about the same level as the water service lines in some areas.Some water service lines(pipes)are freezing up in these conditions. However,only about 400 pipes have frozen out of 94,000 accounts or less than one half of one percent of all homes in our service area. What can I do to keep it from freezing again? Once your line has been thawed out,it is essential to keep the water running continuously as instructed: one gallon every four minutes. Turning the water off,even for a few minutes, could cause the once frozen line to re-freeze. Remember this line already froze this year and is likely to re-freeze if you do not continue to run the water. Should I be running hot or cold water? Run the cold water from the lowest point in the house, usually a laundry room sink or tub. The idea is to keep the water flowing constantly at a rate of about one gallon every four minutes. Do not run your hot water. I've been asked to run my water in a letter from SPRWS. How much water should I be running? The letter specifies running water at a rate of one gallon every four minutes—about the stream width of a pencil. The weather is supposed to get above freezing. Can I stop running my water now? 2 68 No. If you are running your water as instructed in a letter from SPRWS, keep the water running until we contact you. The frost will take much longer to leave the ground than a few days of above freezing temps. I was not notified by SPRWS, but I chose to run my water. Can I get my sewer base rate adjusted? Yes. Call us and tell when you ran your water so we can determine normal water use.You will still be charged for the water and sewer you used during that time, but your ongoing sewer charges will be set for what you normally would have used. I was not notified by SPRWS, but I chose to run my water. Will I get reimbursed for the water and sewer I used? No. Can water temperature be used to predict if my water pipe will freeze? Perhaps. SPRWS has no experience with this.SPRWS draws and treats surface water from its chain of lakes and distributes water with a temperature of 36-39 degrees. With this winter's deep frost, the ground around water pipes may not be frozen, but it is unlikely to help warm the water pipe,either.So, if the water temperature falls below 36 degrees, it seems suspect. If my water service line (pipe) does freeze, how long will it take for you to thaw it out? It will take anywhere from 2-5 days for us to get to your service depending on demand. Once onsite, it can take anywhere from 2 hours to upwards of 8 hours or more to thaw it out,depending on the size of the pipe. Can SPRWS predict which water services will freeze? No.SPRWS has record information of water pipes that froze in the past. Considering this history,SPRWS has determined these water pipes are likely to freeze. Accordingly,these accounts have been notified and requested to run their water. Unfortunately,some of the water pipes that froze this winter have no history of freezing in the past. While relatively few in number,the frozen pipes are occurring at random all across the SPRWS service area. Water service lines(pipes) are down into the ground 6.5 to 7.5 feet. Right now, in some areas, SPRWS has seen frost depths approaching the pipe depth. Pipes are freezing up in these conditions. Unfortunately,SPRWS cannot determine the frost depth surrounding each of 94,000 service lines. What we know is fewer than 400 pipes have frozen out of 94,000 accounts or less than one half of one percent of all homes in our service area. If I have a frozen water pipe and do not have water, whom do I call? Contact SPRWS at 651-266-6868,our 24-hour emergency line. SAINT PAUL Jerry Ludden r. , REGIONAL Meter Operations WATER Supervisor SERVICES 1900 Rice Street Saint Paul, MN 55113 Ph: 651-266-6853 Fax.651-266-6857 Jerry.Ludden @ci.stpaul.mn.us 3 69 The Pipeline: A Minnesota Public Works Connection: Water Line Freeze Ups - Guidance ... Page 1 of 2 sh.r. More Next Blogg Create Slog Sign In THE PIPELINF 1 , [Elf. A- MINNESOTA PUBLIC -WORKS CONNECTION MINNESOTA ITIES ies ‘.; I Ira, _r • ]-- - r „„ 4 if' .211,zd.:111.1 "1; 44.4;431C-:-T114 • Home Author Bios Search Water Line reezts tips Guidari Re-, Jell's So why are we writing a Wog Ti, I t 141 tflnn s,'hi itt tnsiianHjnst itti Ili F F I II iir iils Ism] inyway>Read hers to find oot toetribt ,to-ow ihe'die gig treene ur. ,,),Th[ws icss git Ss, have it 1,1, post iH,1 ling v._ Jig s rIFFle r , cit/s response t, f dim] ; Ft FF0/test ./111-1 r i ni FiTFiS r, r ntlic,r eler t., )0 p th. in h: His.Fiitirrii , n incrn HI her •1. LMC Pipeline ity ini gti-s isusPirsjitier H we:.it in thou H'::-rs :ire dFnFd:iV FF:i'n.:!i .iT:i5::trli F 5: -:ns n-FF-:F-1 utisi iF: st F::i FM:,::i:f:i,rnrat,rin in t'n:- -:Ii.-•i etc Fitritce sr...rnsit,s HF-ne!i, nit ,t (1. , • Use my complete profile Join this site 0 iicy• l• • f iiiit0i •dat■'[ lisle in the fit dr- I I r sir, I Mini y),Ir reid Mgaggss 141 dii jr-ss i diner isst I- Minnesota Rural Water Association. 1,1 •. : .•,.• ens c, Ss • If a home's thermostat isn't hardwired and relies on a battery,property • 2014 owners should make sure that battery is fresh • March • February The city utilfty can deter-none •vOuthwt riot charge property°woe's for the Pith I This issue will be with us for sanitary sewer flow:mat vial tilt 'tiosiooOon Ask prupor ty ow,'ss to notify the awhile-frozen wet city utility if flu(' mothod is chews LMC Pipeline S Step Lively Winter Ladder IT Safety • January 70 http://lmcpipeline.blogspot.corn/2014/02/water-line-treeze-ups-guidance-to.htinl 3/10/2014 Wright County Frozen Soil Profile 2013-2014 Page 1 of 1 1 ,;>$0 nad Research libFROST and THAW DEPTHS OF1 .. Office of Materials& Road Research Wugtil County (-ru-.r, SG;I Ptol,1+. Search IE.mail I Help Seasonal Thursday.March 13,2014 Load Limits Frozen Soil Profile MnDOT Home Depth Below Pavement Surface(inches) FAQ 0 Topics AtaZ 5 Pavement HMA Search MnDOT la I Info DOT 15 20 to9 25 30 1 I,1 ii Slimmer/ 35 40 - Ii I 11 I, IIGer 45 I' lI Adobe Reader 50 55 , I�1' in60 Wright County i 65 Minnesota - 70 MnROAD-Cell 27/28 '.' 1 I, 75 SE of Monticello, MN as 1 I'I as Depth of Frost 1 Ili 90 —Depth of Thaw '11 95 . . Depth of Secondary Frost 1 F lao i 1.1111 iiii 01 08 15 22 29 06 13 20 27 03 10 Il 24 31 07 14 21 28 07 14 21 28 04 II 18 25 02 09 16 23 30 p°"er'°t L—Nov i Dec I Jan Feb 1 Mar 1 Apr 1 May-1 1 2013 2014 tip http://www.mrr.dot.state.mn.us/research/seasonal_load_limits/thawindex/frost/fs_wright.asp 3/14/2014