HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014WaterReportPipelinePipelinePUBLIC WORKS
Your Drinking Water Is
Certified Safe
This issue of Public Works Pipeline contains
the City’s annual water quality report,
which includes complete information on
the monitoring done on Edina’s drinking
water last year. Residents in Edina’s
Morningside Neighborhood who receive
their water from the City of Minneapolis
will find information detailing the quality
of Minneapolis’ water on pages 10-12.
In the report, you will find a detailed
account of Edina’s water quality, including
test results on all contaminants deemed
by the Minnesota Department of Health to
pose a health risk.
Our goal is to provide you with water
that surpasses both state and federal
requirements for safety and quality.
This year’s report shows that our water
surpasses regulatory standards on all
counts.
If you have any questions or would like
more information, contact Edina Public
Works at 952-826-0312.
2014 Water Report
For the Year 2013
Turf Management Affects Water Quality See Page 3 for details
Filtering Out Water Treatment Scams
Every person has the right to decide what
is best for themselves and their family.
You may choose to install additional
water treatment to further lower the
levels of contaminants, chlorine and
other chemicals in your water. However,
it is important you are made aware that
false claims, deceptive sales pitches or
scare tactics have been used by some
water treatment companies.
Consumers should be aware of tactics
and claims used to pressure them into
buying water treatment systems that
aren’t certified or recommended by the
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
One of the best ways to decide on
a system is to make sure that it is
certified by an organization such as
NSF International, the Water Quality
Association or Underwriters Laboratories.
Unfortunately, some purveyors of water
treatment systems use fraudulent sales
tactics. In many of those cases, a scam
will take the form of something left
on the door of a home encouraging
the owner to take action. It might
be a letter or a plastic bottle with
instructions to fill it up and leave it
for the “water company” to test. Some
victims think that the water company is
the City. More than likely, the company
will “test” the water and come back and
tell the resident something needs to
be done to ensure the quality of their
water, which isn’t the case.
City of Edina Utility Supervisor Gary Wells
has dealt with situations such as these.
“If we’re lucky, people will call us before
they do anything,” said Wells in regard
to the scams.
According to Wells, the City’s water
is tested daily and meets all the
requirements set by the State of
Minnesota and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
Although Wells has dealt with occasional
reports of scams for the past couple
years, he says that calls are very minimal
and that most people are able to
recognize them for what they are.
Wells does not recommend residents buy
any water treatment system other than
a water softener because they have the
potential to strip their water supply of
naturally occurring minerals, and may
result in erosion of pipes.
It is also important to know how to
correctly use and maintain your system.
If it does not work properly, it could run
the risk of worsening your water quality.
Some companies may claim their systems
are “maintenance free,” but bewar.
Wells encourages people to call the City
if they are targeted by water treatment
scams, but also wants people to know
that the City’s utility jurisdiction stops
at the curb.
“If they let us know, we can help educate
our customers and alert the proper
agencies if needed,” said Wells.
Anyone who feels they have been
provided false information regarding
questionable sales tactics should contact
the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office
Consumer Complaints Division at 651-
296-3353 or visit www.ag.state.mn.us/
Consumer/Complaint.asp
For more information on Edina’s Public
Works Department or its Utilities Division,
visit www.EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks.
Tips To Avoid Being The
Victim Of A Scam
If you are considering the purchase
of a home water treatment system,
the Minnesota Department of Health
recommends the following:
• Make sure the treatment system/device
you are considering is certified to
achieve the advertised results.
• Make sure the treatment system/device
actually addresses whatever issue you
are concerned about – no one system
will treat all water quality problems.
• Work with a reputable water treatment
company.
• Verify that the installation is done by
a licensed plumber or licensed water
conditioning contractor (as required by
state law).
• Compare water treatment systems and
prices.
• If you are contacted by a company
to test your water and they say they
are working with the City of Edina or
a state agency, ask for their contact
person at the City or state.
• Make sure you understand how to
properly use and maintain the system;
otherwise, it may not work properly
and, in some cases, even make your
water quality worse. Be wary of
companies claiming their system is
maintenance-free.
• Be wary of any in-home “water quality
tests” that the salesperson claims
indicate the presence of contamination.
The results may simply indicate the
presence of naturally occurring minerals
in the water.
• Beware of any “one-time only” offer of
a water treatment system at a “greatly
reduced price.” Sometimes, systems are
sold at inflated prices.
2
Public Works Profile: Matt Poythress
By Michael McGivern
As our winter snow melts into gutters and
summer’s warmth envelopes the state,
treatment is an imperative factor in
keeping water clean year-round.
For the last five years, Matt Poythress has
worked in the Public Works Department’s
Utilities Division as a Public Service
Worker.
“I work on water meters and assist at water
treatment plants as we get fired up for the
summer,” said Poythress.
Edina has treatment plants in the lower
level of the parking ramp in the Grandview
area, near the Edina Community Center
and at Fred Richards Executive Golf
Course.
All well water is treated with fluoride,
chlorine and polyphosphates. Poythress
and his co-workers oversee that treatment
to clean Edina’s water.
The plants and well houses work by
passing water through filters. After
this preliminary treatment, dissolved
substances and suspended particles
still remain. The water enters a gravity
filtration tank where it is held. What
remains in the water after these physical
methods of treatment are dissolved
pollutants and very small particles that
remain floating in suspension.
The method of removing dissolved organic
and inorganic compounds in water
mimics the natural process by which
water is purified gradually over time. As
the treatment progresses, the bacteria
themselves are consumed by other
organisms, leaving relatively cleaner
water. After secondary treatment, the
water must enter another gravity filtration
tank where any solids that might have
entered the water are filtered out.
Once the water has been treated, it is
distributed through a system of 200 miles
of water main, four water towers and a
ground reservoir to supply homes and
businesses with clean, safe drinking water.
When not working on water treatment, Matt
is busy auditing home water consumption
meters for the purpose of billing. He
inspects meters and utility boxes to
confirm that they are in good condition
and checks for signs of tampering or
fraud.
For more information, visit www.EdinaMN.gov,
keyword search: utility.
Matt Poythress is a Public Service Worker
in the Utilities Division of the Public
Works Department.
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Matt Poythress is a Public Service Worker
in the Utilities Division of the Public
Works Department.
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Lawn Care Affects Water Quality
Keeping our wetlands, lakes and water
supply clean and healthy is in everyone’s
best interest. Minimizing pollutants is a
vital part of this goal.
Being a good steward of the environment
can sometimes seem like a daunting task,
but when it comes to lawn care, there
are six simple adjustments you can make
to your routine that will have profound
impacts on the health of our ecosystem.
They are:
• Test your soil. Find out what nutrients
you may or may not need to add for a
healthy lawn.
• Do not use phosphorus fertilizer.
The “P” on the NPK rating on a bag
of fertilizer indicates the amount of
phosphorus, so be sure to choose
fertilizer with a “P” rating of “0.”
• Apply fertilizer at the correct rate. More
is not better. Be sure your spreader is
set correctly.
• Keep fertilizer, grass clippings and
leaves off driveways and streets. When
these things are left on hard surfaces,
they wash off into storm drains and
cause “green” lakes.
• Mow grass to a height of two or three
inches. Overseed in the spring and
fall. Aerate and dethatch in the fall. A
healthy lawn invites fewer weeds and
needs less chemical maintenance.
• Grass clippings left on the lawn act as
a fertilizer in the summer. A healthy
lawn needs less chemical maintenance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the hardness of Edina water,
and what level of hardness should I set
my water softener to?
A: Edina water has approximately 17
grains of hardness. The Utility Division
of the Public Works Department
recommends setting your softener to
obtain 3 to 4 grains of hardness.
Q: What other important information
should I know about Edina’s water?
A: Edina water has less than 1 part per
million of iron. The pH level of Edina
water is 7.6. Edina maintains fluoride at
about 1 part per million.
Q: Sometimes my water smells like
bleach. Why? Is that harmful? What can
I do to rid the water of that smell?
A: The City uses recommended amounts
of chlorine to remove microorganisms
from the water. Edina maintains its
chlorine level between 1 and 1.5 parts
per million. We test the water every
day to make sure the levels are within
national regulation guidelines. This
level of chlorine is not harmful, but
some people are sensitive to its odor.
An easy solution is to keep a container
of water stored in your refrigerator.
The chlorine gas smell dissipates very
quickly, leaving no odor.
Q: I used to get a postcard telling me
when you’re flushing the hydrants, but
I don’t get it anymore. How am I going
to know when you are flushing?
A: The costs of mass mailings can be
high. To save money, information is
published in the Edina Sun-Current and
About Town, on Edina Channels 16 and
813, and online at www.EdinaMN.gov.
Q: How long does it take after flushing
hydrants for my water to run clear?
A: Generally, after flushing, it takes two
to six hours for the iron particles, which
are heavier than water, to settle out
of the water. It may help to turn your
cold water on medium pressure in your
laundry tub until the water clears up.
Since the Utilities Department flushes
from 7 a.m. to 2:30 or 3 p.m., it is a
good idea to wait until early evening to
do laundry. Always run a little water in
your laundry tub first to make sure the
water is running clear.
Q: How large of an area is affected by
flushing a hydrant? Why can’t you be
more specific about when you’ll be on
my block?
A: Usually when a hydrant is opened,
only the area in a block radius is
affected. Often, even though the City
flushes a hydrant right outside your
home, you won’t have any discolored
water. Because the water system is a
single-pressure zone (all connected), it
is possible to cause red water problems
in ANY area of the city.
Q: Why do you flush all the hydrants on
my street? Wouldn’t one or two suffice?
A: We try to operate every hydrant in the
City once a year to see if there are any
maintenance-related issues that may
need attention.
Q: I had water shooting up out of my
lower-level toilets and a sewer gas
smell. What happened? Who’s going to
clean it up?
A: The City’s Utilities Division cleans
sewer main lines using high-pressure
water. While conducting this activity,
our machine can create positive and
negative pressures in the sewer line.
These pressures are normally released
through the manholes and roof vents
from the house’s sewer line. If the
house’s vent line is obstructed, the
pressures will take the path of least
resistance. This path can be through
your floor drain or toilet. Air is the
only thing that gets released. However,
it will move any standing water in its
path and release sewer gas into your
home.
This is not a common occurrence, but
does occasionally happen. Putting
water in all of the drains in your house
(especially lower-level floor drains) will
stop the further release of sewer odor
into your home. Clean-up is typically
minor and is left to the home owner.
Keeping your sewer and vent line clean
will help prevent this from happening
and minimize the chances of a backup
caused from a blockage. After cleaning
your sewer line, please call the City’s
Utilities Division so staff can make sure
the debris from your line won’t block
the main sewer line.
– Compiled by Susan Waack
Collaboration Streamlines
Utility Replacement
By Jordan Gilgenbach
What takes only a few months of
construction can sometimes take
five years to plan. Part of that
planning is coordinated across
several departments, using the
skills and expertise of staff from the
City’s Engineering and Public Works
departments.
About a year or two before a planned
street reconstruction begins, crews
from Edina’s Public Works Department
inspect the infrastructure below the
pavement. They use cameras and other
equipment to inspect water mains,
sanitary sewers and storm sewers.
“In some areas, the underground
infrastructure might be about 60 years
old,” said Dave Goergen, Public Works
Coordinator. He noted underground
infrastructure lasts about 50 to 80
years. Since many of Edina’s older
roads were constructed in the 1950s
and ’60s, they are nearing the end of
their useful lives.
The data about the infrastructure is
given to the Engineering staff, which
runs it through a formula and makes a
recommendation on whether to repair
or replace the infrastructure. The
quality of the street pavement and the
underground utilities help prioritize
projects.
“In many cases, the infrastructure will
be replaced, but, where it can be, it is
repaired,” said Goergen. “This can help
save money on the project.”
“We want to provide residents with the
best service possible,” said Engineering
Director Chad Millner. “We don’t want
to sacrifice quality to save a little. If
a [water main] break happens after a
street reconstruction, it could be more
costly to dig up the new road, make
the fix and then fix the road again. It’s
much more efficient to get it done in
one swoop.”
Efficiency is what this cooperation is
about. Over the last few years, staff
has improved interdepartmental
communication, so each department
knows the status of the projects.
Additionally, it brings new ideas.
“We’re all on the same team,” Goergen
said. “With this partnership brings
two different perspectives for the
betterment of everyone.”
For more information about Edina’s street
reconstructions, visit
www.EdinaMN.gov/Engineering.
2014 Street Projects
• Birchcrest B: Clover Ridge; Rolf
Avenue; 62nd Street and portions
of 60th Street, Birchcrest Drive,
Normandale Road, Porter Lane, Tingdale
Avenue, Valley View Road and Wilryan
Avenue will be reconstructed.
• Bredesen Park D: Aspen Road, Tamarac
Lane, Tamarac Avenue and Walnut Drive
will be reconstructed.
• Countryside F: Hawkes Drive, Hawkes
Terrace and Warden Avenue will be
reconstructed.
• France Avenue: France Avenue at 66th,
70th and 76th streets will be improved
for pedestrians and bicyclists. Missing
sidewalk connections on the east side
of France Avenue will also be added.
• Hazelton Road: The roadway between
France Avenue and the Edina
Promenade will be reconstructed and a
roundabout added.
• Morningside B: Alden Drive, Eton
Place, Scott Terrace and portions of
Morningside Road and 42nd Street will
be reconstructed.
• Strachauer Park B: A portion of 62nd
Street, Abbott Avenue, York Avenue and
Zenith Avenue will be reconstructed.
• Todd Park F: Brooke, Coolidge and
Mackey avenues will be reconstructed
as part of a St. Louis Park street
reconstruction project.
Crews replace a storm sewer as part of
the Strachauer Park B neighborhood
street reconstruction.
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The City of Edina is issuing
the results of monitoring
done on its drinking water
for the period from Jan. 1 to
Dec. 31, 2013.
The purpose of this report is to advance
consumers’ understanding of drinking
water and heighten awareness of the need
to protect precious water resources.
Source of Water
The City of Edina provides drinking water
to its residents from a groundwater
source: 17 wells ranging from 381 to
1,080 feet deep that draw water from
the Mount Simon, Jordan and Prairie Du
Chien-Jordan aquifers.
The water provided to customers may
meet drinking water standards, but the
Minnesota Department of Health has
also made a determination as to how
vulnerable the source of water may be to
future contamination incidents. If you
wish to obtain the entire source water
assessment regarding your drinking
water, please call 651-201-4700 or
1-800-818-9318 (and press 5) during
normal business hours. Also, you can
view it online at www.health.state.
mn.us/divs/eh/water/swp/swa.
Call 952-826-0375 if you have questions
about the City of Edina’s drinking
water or would like information about
opportunities for public participation in
decisions that may affect the quality of
the water.
Results of Monitoring
No contaminants were detected at levels
that violated federal drinking water
standards. However, some contaminants
were detected in trace amounts that
were below legal limits. The table
that follows shows the contaminants
that were detected in trace amounts
last year. (Some contaminants are
sampled less frequently than once a
year; as a result, not all contaminants
were sampled in 2013. If any of these
contaminants were detected the last
time they were sampled for, they are
included in the table along with the
date the detection occurred.)
Key to Abbreviations:
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level
Goal: The level of a contaminant in
drinking water below which there is no
known or expected risk to health. MCLGs
allow for a margin of safety.
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The
highest level of a contaminant that is
allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set
as close to the MCLGs as feasible using
the best available treatment technology.
MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant
Level.
MRDLG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant
Level Goal.
AL: Action Level: The concentration of a
contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers
treatment or other requirement which a
water system must follow.
90th Percentile Level: This is the
value obtained after disregarding 10
percent of the samples taken that had
the highest levels. (For example, in
a situation in which 10 samples were
taken, the 90th percentile level is
determined by disregarding the highest
result, which represents 10 percent of
the samples.) Note: In situations in
which only five samples are taken, the
average of the two with the highest
levels is taken to determine the 90th
percentile level.
pCi/l: PicoCuries per liter: a measure
of radioactivity.
ppb: Parts per billion, which can also be
expressed as micrograms per liter (μg/l).
ppm: Parts per million, which can
also be expressed as milligrams per
liter (mg/l).
nd: No Detection.
N/A: Not Applicable (does not apply).
2013 City of Edina Drinking Water Report
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Contaminant (units)MCLG MCL
Level Found
Typical Source of ContaminantRange (2013)Average/Result*
Alpha Emitters (pCi/l)0 15.4 3.5-8.3 8.3 Erosion of natural deposits.
Barium (ppm)2 2 .135-.169 .17 Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits.
Combined Radium (pCi/l)0 5.4 1.3-1.7 1.7 Erosion of natural deposits.
Fluoride (ppm)4 4 .8-1.2 1
The State of Minnesota requires all municipal water systems
to add fluoride to the drinking water to promote strong
teeth; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from fertilizer
and aluminum factories.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb)0 60 nd-12.4 9 By-product of drinking water disinfection.
TTHM (Total trihalomethanes) (ppb)0 80 12.1-42.2 33.15 By-product of drinking water disinfection.
Trichloroethylene (ppb)0 5 nd-.63 .38 Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories.
Vinyl Chloride (ppb)0 2 nd-.28 .28 Leaching from PVC piping;
Discharge from plastics factories.
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb)70 70 nd-7 6.47 Discharge from industrial chemical factories.
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (ppb)100 100 nd-.17 .17 Discharge from industrial chemical factories.
*This is the value used to determine compliance with federal standards. It sometimes is the highest value detected and sometimes is an average of all the detected values. If it is an average, it may contain sampling results from the previous year.
Contaminant (units)MRDLG MRDL *********Typical Source of Contaminant
Chlorine (ppm)4 4 .5-.7 .61 Water additive used to control microbes.
****Lowest and Highest Monthly Average. *****Highest Quarterly Average.
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Contaminant (units)MCLG AL 90% Level # sites over AL Typical Source of
Contaminant
Copper (ppm) 1.3 1.3 1.16 1 out of 30 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.
Lead (ppb) 0 15 2.4 0 out of 30
Corrosion of household
plumbing systems; Erosion
of natural deposits.
If present, infants and children who drink
water containing lead in excess of the
action level could experience delays in
their physical or mental development.
Children could show slight deficits in
attention span and learning abilities.
Adults who drink this water over many
years could develop kidney problems or
high blood pressure. Lead in drinking
water is primarily from materials and
components associated with service lines
and home plumbing. The City of Edina
is responsible for providing high-quality
drinking water, but cannot control the
variety of materials used in plumbing
components. When your water has
been sitting for several hours, you can
minimize the potential for lead exposure
by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to
two minutes before using water for
drinking or cooking. If you are concerned
about lead in your water, you may wish
to have your water tested. Information
on lead in drinking water, testing
methods and steps you can take to
minimize exposure is available from
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline,
800-426-4791, or at www.epa.gov/
safewater/lead.
Monitoring may have been done for
additional contaminates that do not
have MCLs established for them and are
not required to be monitored under the
Safe Drinking Water Act. Results may be
available by calling 651-201-4700 or
1-800-818-9318 during normal business
hours.
Some contaminants do not have Maximum
Contaminant Levels established for them.
These unregulated contaminants are
assessed using state standards known
as health risk limits to determine if
they pose a threat to human health. If
unacceptable levels of an unregulated
contaminant are found, the response
is the same as if an MCL has been
exceeded; the water system must inform
its customers and take other corrective
actions. The table above shows the
unregulated contaminants that were
detected.
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Compliance with
National Primary
Drinking Water Regulations
The sources of drinking water (both tap
water and bottled water) include rivers,
lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs,
springs and wells. As water travels
over the surface of the land or through
the ground, it dissolves naturally
occurring minerals and, in some cases,
radioactive material and can pick up
substances resulting from the presence
of animals or from human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in
source water include:
Microbial contaminants, such as
viruses and bacteria, which may
come from sewage treatment plants,
septic systems, agricultural livestock
operations and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as
salts and metals, which can be
naturally occurring or result from
urban stormwater runoff, industrial or
domestic wastewater discharges, oil
and gas production, mining or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides, which may
come from a variety of sources such as
agriculture, urban stormwater runoff
and residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants,
including synthetic and volatile
organic chemicals, which are by-
products of industrial processes
and petroleum production, and can
also come from gas stations, urban
stormwater runoff and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, which
can be naturally occurring or be the
result of oil and gas production and
mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is
safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes
regulations that limit the amount
of certain contaminants in water
provided by public water systems. Food
and Drug Administration regulations
establish limits for contaminants in
bottled water, which must provide the
same protection for public health.
Drinking water, including bottled
water, may reasonably be expected
to contain at least small amounts of
some contaminants. The presence of
contaminants does not necessarily
indicate that water poses a health risk.
More information about contaminants
and potential health effects can be
obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe
Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-
4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable
to contaminants in drinking water
than the general population.
Immuno-compromised people such
as those with cancer undergoing
chemotherapy, those who have
undergone organ transplants, people
with HIV/AIDS or other immune
system disorders, some elderly and
infants can be particularly at risk
from infections. These people should
seek advice about drinking water
from their health care providers.
EPA and Centers for Disease Control
Prevention guidelines on appropriate
means to lessen the risk of infection
by Cryptosporidium are available
from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
at 1-800-426-4791.
Average Edina Water Chemistry
Hardness = 17 grains per gallon
Iron = less than 1 part per million
PH = 7.6
Fluoride = 0.9 to 1.1 parts per million
Chlorine = 1 to 1.2 parts per million
9
2013 City of Minneapolis Drinking Water Report
The City of Minneapolis
is issuing the results
of monitoring done on its
drinking water for the period
from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013.
The purpose of this report is to advance
consumers’ understanding of drinking
water and heighten awareness of the
need to protect precious water resources.
Source of Water
The City of Minneapolis provides
drinking water to its residents from
a surface water source: surface water
drawn from the Mississippi River.
The water provided to customers may
meet drinking water standards, but the
Minnesota Department of Health has
also made a determination as to how
vulnerable the source of water may be
to future contamination incidents. If
you wish to obtain the entire source
water assessment regarding your
drinking water, please call 651-201-
4700 or 1-800-818-9318 (and press
5) during normal business hours. Also,
you can view it online at www.health.
state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/swp/swa.
Call 612-661-4949 if you have questions
about the City of Minneapolis drinking
water or would like information about
opportunities for public participation
in decisions that may affect the
quality of the water.
Results of Monitoring
No contaminants were detected at
levels that violated federal drinking
water standards. However, some
contaminants were detected in
trace amounts that were below
legal limits. The table that follows
shows the contaminants that were
detected in trace amounts last year.
(Some contaminants are sampled
less frequently than once a year; as
a result, not all contaminants were
sampled for in 2013. If any of these
contaminants were detected the last
time they were sampled for, they are
included in the table along with the
date that the detection occurred.)
Key to abbreviations:
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level
Goal: The level of a contaminant in
drinking water below which there is
no known or expected risk to health.
MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level: The
highest level of a contaminant that
is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are
set as close to the MCLGs as feasible
using the best available treatment
technology.
TT: Treatment Technique: A required
process intended to reduce the level of
a contaminant in drinking water.
NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit, used
to measure clarity in drinking water.
MRDL: Maximum Residual
Disinfectant Level.
MRDLG: Maximum Residual
Disinfectant Level Goal.
AL: Action Level: The concentration
of a contaminant which, if exceeded,
triggers treatment or other requirement
which a water system must follow.
90th Percentile Level: This is the
value obtained after disregarding 10
percent of the samples taken that had
the highest levels. (For example, in
a situation in which 10 samples were
taken, the 90th percentile level is
determined by disregarding the highest
result, which represents 10 percent of
the samples.) Note: In situations in
which only five samples are taken, the
average of the two with the highest
levels is taken to determine the 90th
percentile level.
ppb: Parts per billion, which can
also be expressed as micrograms
per liter (μg/l).
ppm: Parts per million,
which can also be expressed as
milligrams per liter (mg/l).
nd: No Detection.
N/A: Not Applicable
(does not apply).
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Contaminant (units)MCLG MCL Level Found Typical Source of ContaminantRange (2012)Average/Result*
Fluoride (ppm)4 4 .9-.98 .97
State of Minnesota requires all municipal water
systems to add fluoride to the drinking water to
promote strong teeth; Erosion of natural deposits;
Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (ppb)0 60 nd-44.8 33.38 By-product of drinking water disinfection.
Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm)10.4 10.4 N/A .26 Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks,
sewage; Erosion of natural deposits.
TTHM (Total trihalomethanes)
(ppb)0 80 9.1-57.7 39.13 By-product of drinking water disinfection.
*This is the value used to determine compliance with federal standards. It sometimes is the highest value detected and sometimes is an average of all the detected values. If it is an average, it may
contain sampling results from the previous year.
**Lowest Monthly Percentage of Samples Meeting the Turbidity Limits. ***Highest Single Measurement.
****Highest and Lowest Monthly Average. *****Highest Quarterly Average.
Contaminant (units)MCLG MCL *********Typical Source of Contaminant
Chlorine (ppm)4 4 2.9-3.4 3.28 Water additive used to control microbes.
Contaminant (units)MCLG AL 90% Level # sites over AL Typical Source of Contaminant
Copper (ppm) 1.3 1.3 .07 0 out of 50 Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.
Lead (ppb)0 15 3.2 1 out of 50 Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
Erosion of natural deposits.
Contaminant (units)MCLG MCL *****Typical Source of Contaminant
Turbidity (NTU)N/A TT Soil runoff.
Contaminant Unit % Removal Requirement % Removal Achieved # of Quarters out of Compliance Typical Source of Contaminant
Total Organic Carbon % Removed 25-30%46.4-60.2%0 Naturally present in the environment.
Turbidity is a measure of the clarity of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.
11
If present, infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical
or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over
many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components
associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Minneapolis is responsible for providing high quality drinking water,
but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you
can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or
cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking
water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 800-426-
4791, or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Monitoring may have been done for additional contaminates that do not have MCLs established for them and are not required to be
monitored under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Results may be available by calling 651-201-4700 or 1-800-818-9318 during normal
business hours.
12
City’s Locating Truck ‘Marks’
Before You Make a Mark
By Lauryn Grimes
We’ve all heard the plea ‘Call before you
dig,’ but what happens after the call is
made? Who paints the colorful markings
we see around construction sites? Whether
you’re adding a fountain to your backyard
landscaping or building a new home,
you will likely see the Public Works
Department’s locating truck at some point
or another.
The locating truck is the vehicle that carries
the operator and equipment needed to
locate and mark aspects related to most
construction projects, big or small.
The process of locating begins when a
request is sent to Gopher State One
Call by a homeowner, the City, private
contractors and large companies. From
there, various utilities are dispatched to
mark their underground infrastructure so
that construction crews do not disturb
them. The Public Works Department
is responsible for marking City-owned
public infrastructure such as fiber optic,
electrical, water, sanitary and storm sewer.
Private utilities are marked independently.
Edina’s Public Works Department
uses an online ticketing
manager, KorTerra – a
corporate partner of Gopher
State One – to distribute
requests to Bart Voth, who
then completes the markings.
Voth is part of the Public
Works Department’s Utilities
Division and the main
operator of the truck and
locating equipment.
“The truck itself is not
particularly exciting,” said
Dave Goergen, Public Works
Coordinator. “It’s the mapping and
electronic work order process that
deserves the attention.”
Utilities Supervisor, Gary Wells, noted
that locating is particularly important
because of the potentially dangerous
situations it prevents. “It is a safety
issue for us, workers, citizens of the
city and contractors in the area,” he
explained.
“Everything has different levels of
potential impact on people, property,
infrastructure, as well as complicating a
dig site,” said Goergen. “Gas and power
have a more immediate explosive factor,
but sanitary and water, although not
as instantaneous, do have potential for
serious risks.”
On average, the Public Works Department
fills about 9,000 requests per year.
From May until October – the busiest
months of the year for such requests -
Voth completes more than 100 sets of
markings per day.
To send a locating request, call
651-454-0002 or visit
www.gopherstateonecall.org.
Utility Operator Bart Voth with the Public Works
Department’s locating truck and equipment.
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