6.01h ERMUSR 11-14-2023��i
Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Dave Ninow —Water Superintendent
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
November 14, 2023
6.01h
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• Delivered 8 new water meters, installed a Smart Point module, and took curb stop ties.
• Completed 15 BACTI/Total Chlorine Residual Samples
o All confirmed negative for Coliform Bacteria.
o Bacteriological/Disinfectant Residual Monthly Report submitted to the MDH
• Completed 22 routine fluoride samples
o All samples met MDH standards
o Submitted MDH Fluoride Report
• The water department completed the annual inspection of the Lake Orono Damon
October 4. The dam seems to be in satisfactory condition.
• The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has notified us that we have passed the
next threshold for bacteriological monitoring. Now that our water system serves more
than 17,201 people our sampling rate will be increased from 15 to 20 bacteriological
samples per month starting in 2024.
• Water department staff worked with City staff and the contractor installing the Rolling
Hills neighborhood sewer force main to find a difficult to locate sixteen -inch water main
pipe stub in the roundabout at County Road 40 and County Road 13. After much time
and effort, we were able to locate the pipe and the contractor was able to directionally
drill the force main past the water main pipe without incident.
• The drop pipe, check valve, pump, and motor have been removed from Well 4 for
routine maintenance and inspection.
• AT&T has expressed interest in leasing space on the Freeport Street Water Tower for
telecommunication equipment. Currently Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile (formerly
Sprint) lease space on our towers but this would be the first for AT&T. We are working
on drafting a tower attachment lease agreement for this potential site build.
• The replacement of the water main pipe in the School View neighborhood has been
completed as well as the nine water services that homeowners elected to have replaced
with the project by paying through assessment.
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We have drained the Auburn Street Water Tower for the winter. Throughout previous
winters the tower was subject to ice buildup on top of the water, which is extremely
damaging to the structure and paint. This will be the last time we will need to drain the
tower for winter as we have identified in the 2024 budget to have a submersible tank
mixer installed to keep the water moving, preventing freezing and improving water
quality.
ATTACHMENTS:
• October 2023 Pumping by Well
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