10-11-2006 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Way S Wawa% MAYOR 13111 Blesener COUNCIL Jim LaValle Rick Montour Barbara Allan John Reis 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 ADMINISTRATOR (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 Joel R. Hanson www. ci.little- canada.mn. us MEMORANDUM To: Mayor Blesener & Members of City Council From: Bill Dircks, Public Works Superintendent Date: October 5, 2006 Re: Water Service Pipe Materials Over the past six months to a year the price of copper has gone up dramatically. Contractors are dealing with charging much higher rates to install copper water services and also a dramatic increase in theft of copper from their jobsites. The City's water ordinance specifies Type K copper for water service connections from the curb stop to the house. When the ordinance was created copper pipe was the standard for water service installations. Since that time, plastic pipe has improved dramatically and can now easily meet the pressure and non - corrosive standards required for water service pipe. Both the American Water Works Association and the State of Minnesota have approved plastic pipe for use as a water service pipe. In order to aid contractors in providing cost- effective materials to residents and to decrease theft, staff recommends that the water ordinance be changed to allow additional materials along with copper. Rather than specify exact materials in the ordinance, staff recommends language similar to the current Roseville ordinance that reads: "The water service pipe shall be watertight and corrosion resistant of a material approved by the Public Works Director." This allows flexibility to allow different material without having to list the different types allowed and deal with changing the ordinance as other options become available. In checking other ordinances around the Twin Cities only Vadnais I-Ieights specifically listed Type K copper as the material allowed. All others were similar to Roseville. Staff will ask each contractor what type of service pipe material will be used and approve it as needed. The City of Lino Lakes has a detailed specification they use for plastic pipe to keep everything standard. I have requested a copy of the specification but have not yet received it yet.