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1 <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />REGULAR MEETING STAFF REPORT <br />AGENDA ITEM 6J <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: <br />MEETING DATE: <br />TOPIC: <br />Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br />October 9, 2023 <br />Consider Resolution No. 23-109, Authorizing Preparation <br />of Well No. 4 Repurposing Plan <br />VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Staff is requesting City Council consideration to authorize development of a plan for the <br />repurposing of Municipal Well No. 4 in conjunction with the construction of the Water <br />Treatment Plant. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Groundwater pumping from high capacity wells has been identified as a factor in influencing <br />White Bear Lake and Prairie du Chein-Jordan aquifer levels. The City, in its role as a supplier of <br />safe drinking water to residents and businesses, recognizes the need to conserve water <br />resources and minimize impacts to the aquifer. <br />The City currently operates a strong conservation program that includes a tiered rate system, <br />water loss leak detection program, irrigation restrictions and smart irrigation use in municipal <br />parks. The City has also established a smart irrigation controller program to assist residents <br />with reducing irrigation volumes. The City has also encouraged the implementation of surface <br />water reuse systems in new development. The Lyngblomsten and Watermark reuse systems <br />are estimated to result in a water savings of 18 million gallons annually. <br />In keeping with these efforts staff has been reviewing the potential opportunities afforded to us <br />from the construction of the proposed Water Treatment Plant. Staff is anticipating that once <br />the plant is operational pumping from Well No. 4, the only City well within 5 miles of White <br />Bear Lake, could be reduced substantially. Since pumping will be shifted to wells directly <br />connected to the Water Treatment Plant, Well No. 4 pumping could be repurposed to serve <br />solely to serve peak demand periods including emergencies. This has the potential to drop <br />pumping volumes from Well No. 4 an average of 189,000,000 gallons per year to approximately <br />50,000,000 gallons.