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3.0 Background and Purpose <br />The Metropolitan Council commissioned Barr Engineering to conduct a preliminary joint water utility <br />feasibility study for the cities of Centerville, Circle Pines, Hugo, Lexington, Lino Lakes and Columbus. <br />The goal of this study is to perform a high level evaluation of the feasibility of combining municipal <br />water systems with two options for joint utility ownership, construction and operation, as compared to <br />individual development. <br />Joint Utility Jointly constructed, owned and operated supply, <br />Option 1: storage and treatment system. Independently <br />constructed, owned and operated distribution <br />systems. <br />Joint Utility Jointly constructed, owned and operated supply, <br />Option 2: storage, treatment and distribution system. <br />Independent Make no changes. Operate as independent <br />Utilities utilities. <br />Option 3: <br />This study examines the impacts of both Option 1 and Option 2 and recommends whether the idea of a <br />collaborative system is worthwhile and merits further investigation, as compared to Option 3. The time <br />period for this study runs through 2030 and compares future infrastructure investment and maintenance <br />costs. <br />3.1 Tasks <br />In order to evaluate the water system development options, the following steps were completed: <br />1.0 Data Collection and Evaluation <br />Collect necessary information—including relevant reports, operational and planning <br />information—from the cities/townships involved in the study. <br />2.0 Estimate Current and Future System Demands <br />Determine current and projected water demand through 2030, with data provided by the cities. <br />Future demands are based on projected populations, zoning and planning, relying heavily on <br />the existing city 2030 Comprehensive Plans. Water systems were mapped for infrastructure <br />locations, geologic setting of their water supply, and future land use. <br />3.0 Estimate Future Infrastructure <br />Based on current and future water demands, the necessary supply, treatment, storage and <br />distribution infrastructure was evaluated to meet average, peak day and fire flow demands. <br />4.0 Cost Estimates and Analysis <br />Using the data gathered above on the existing and future systems, cost estimates were <br />developed to compare the two joint options for utility operation with a status quo option of <br />making no changes. These costs were used along with figures to help compare the advantages <br />and disadvantages to combining water systems. <br />Joint water lJtility Feasibility Study 10 <br />