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the clay layer present west of Highway 35 offers some protection from activities at the surface reducing <br />the risk of contamination to wells located there. <br />5.6 Water Quality and Treatment <br />Existing water quality meets the primary standards set by the MDH, so no additional treatment is <br />required. However, a key component of the planning for a Joint Utility will be to study and understand <br />the interaction of the different water qualities present in the member communities. Lexington receives <br />treated water from Blaine most of the year and Circle Pines also treats its water. Mixing the different <br />water qualities may result in undesirable results. A study to determine the impacts of mixing the <br />different water qualities should be undertaken to allow proper planning and protection of water quality. <br />Additional water treatment is not expected to be necessary unless specific wells or mixing creates <br />water quality issues. Contamination is not expected to be an issue as there are no known groundwater <br />contamination plumes in the area of this study. If contamination is discovered, wells should be placed <br />strategically so as to avoid contamination and associated treatment costs. A larger system such as the <br />Joint Utility allows for much easier placement of wells to avoid contamination should plumes be <br />discovered that affect existing wells. <br />Another benefit of a joint utility is that if treatment is desired in the future, as often happens when water <br />systems mature, then fewer, more cost effective treatment facilities could be planned to meet the <br />treatment demand. This again would result in lower upfront costs and lower life cycle costs. <br />Joint water Utility Feasibility Study 21 <br />