WATER LINE
St. Joseph Water Plant
Provides Pulchritude on the Prairie
NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIERS IN MINNESOTA
Annual Monitoring Schedules
Coming Soon
By Kathy Russell
Minnesota Department of Health
A new water plant in St. Joseph, opened in 2007, uses plate
settlers to reduce sludge and also provides an aesthtically
pleasing look as it now stands alone on the edge of the city.
See page 5 for the full story.
Public Review for Metropolitan Area
Master Water Supply Plan
In 2005, the Minnesota Legislature directed the
Metropolitan Council to undertake specific water supply
planning activities, including the development of a
Metropolitan Area Master Water Supply Plan. The public
review period for this draft plan runs through December 16.
The draft plan may be viewed at http://www.metrocouncil.org/
environment/WaterSupply/masterplandraft.htm.
Comments may be submitted to the Metropolitan Council
by one of the following methods:
Mail: Metropolitan Council Data Center
390 N. Robert Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Phone: 651-602-1464
Fax: 651-602-1500
E-mail: [email protected]
Winter 2008-2009
Volume Sixteen/3
Inside:
The Community Public Water Supply Unit has provided
public water supplies with an Annual Monitoring Schedule
(AMS) for about 15 years. For the first several years the
schedule was referred to as the Annual Sampling Schedule,
but that acronym was somewhat disrespectful when said
quickly three times in a row, so the AMS moniker was
eventually born.
The AMS lists specific contaminants that have been
scheduled for monitoring, the day and month the Minnesota
Department of Health (MDH) has scheduled for the
collection of the samples, and whether or not any
reports must be submitted to the MDH, e.g., Consumer
Confidence Report, monthly fluoride, and bacteriological
reports.
Feedback from the public water supplies has been very
positive regarding this tool. There is no doubt it has been
helpful for the water supplies, and when systems are missing
or have misplaced their AMS, they can call for a
replacement to be sent. In the last several years, the AMS
has also been laminated, and the systems have given
feedback about appreciating the durability since conditions
where the AMS is likely to be located are usually not pristine.
The Annual Monitoring Schedules are sent out to the
water supplies in mid-to-late December and are a
different color every year.
Capacity Development
Report Available
The MDH is required to inform the governor regardng the
effectiveness of our capacity development program every
three years. The report to the governor is on-line at:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/dwrf/
capdevreport2008.pdf.
The report indicates that all is well, and that the state’s
drinking water program is in the 99th percentile for
compliance.
92nd Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference
Drinking Water Institute Held in Lakeville
Red Flag Rule Delayed to May 2009
100 Percent Compliance with Consumer Confidence Reports
Red Flag Rule Related to
Identity Theft Delayed to May 2009
Promoting Education with Teachers
As part of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
of 2003, the “Red Flag Rule” to address discrepancies and
spot identity-theft red flags has been delayed until May 1,
2009. Although the rule principally applies to banks, large
credit institutions, and high-volume transaction entities, the
definitions in the rule for “creditor” and “covered account”
appear to apply to drinking-water utilities for customer data
protection and fraud prevention, according to the Association
of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA).
Because many utilities are part of a larger municipal
entity, these “red flag” provisions should/would be handled
through the local government rather than separately or
individually by the water system. Those systems that are not
part of a municipal structure would also have responsibility to
protect their customers but are less likely to use electronic
means to accept payments. For most water utilities, Red
Flag Program enforcement would depend primarily on
customer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission.
“Protecting water utility customer information against identity theft is both a good business practice and an enhancement to a water system’s security efforts. Cybersecurity
protections are often overlooked,” according to ASDWA.
The complete rule in the Federal Register is available at
http://www.occ.treas.gov/fr/fedregister/72fr63718.pdf.
Minnesota American Water Works Association had a booth at
the Education Minnesota Conference to promote its educational
materials to teachers from around the state.
CCR Compliance Is 100 Percent
Community water systems in Minnesota achieved 100
percent compliance for submissions of 2007 Consumer
Confidence Reports (CCR). “This is impressive,” said Kathy
Russell, who handles the CCR submissions for the
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). “Because Minnesota systems submit these reports on time, MDH has achieved
some of the best CCR compliance rates in the nation.”
Ground Water Rule Assessment Monitoring
Assessment Source Water Monitoring will be one of three primary Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Ground
Water Rule procedures with the other being Triggered Source Water Monitoring and sanitary survey significant deficiency
identification.
This rule provision focuses on new or existing ground water sources that may be susceptible to fecal contamination. MDH
will require a small number of ground water systems to conduct monthly monitoring for potential fecal indicators during a
12-month period. Local pathogen sources, well availability, geologic sensitivity, disinfection status, and past water quality
analyses will be used to select candidates. Systems will benefit through early identification of any potential fecal contamination
as part of Ground Water Rule activities.
Bottled Water News
Study Finds Contaminants in “Pure” Bottled Water
Bottler Sues Utility for “Attack” on Its Product
The Environmental Working Group of Washington, D. C.,
found a variety of contaminants—including coliform
bacteria, caffeine, acetaminophen, fertilizer, solvents,
plastic-making chemicals, and the radioactive element
strontium—in 10 brands of bottled water it purchased in
California, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.
Although the brands met federal health standards for
drinking water, the tests indicated that bottled water is no
purer than tap water.
Jane Houlihan, one of the study’s co-authors, said, “In
some cases, it appears bottled water is no less polluted than
tap water and, at 1,900 times the cost, consumers should
expect better.”
Meanwhile, Nestle Waters North America, makers of
Zephyrhills bottled water, is threatening to sue a Florida
water utility for a series of radio ads in which tap water was
characterized as cheaper, purer, and safer than bottled
water.
The ads featured a talking water faucet saying, “You think
bottled water is purer and safer? You think it’s better? Well,
you’re wrong. It’s just the opposite. Bottled water is not
regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Tap
water is. That’s why you always can be sure Miami-Dade
tap water is superior. Stop wasting your money!”
According to John Renfrow of the Miami-Dade Water
and Sewer Department, the ads were aimed at a large
immigrant population, particularly those from areas that don’t
have a reliable and safe supply of water.
A Nestle spokesman called the ads “an attack on the
product we produce.”
However, environmental groups characterized the
threatened lawsuit “as a warning shot from an industry
worried about slow sales after years of gushing growth.”
Articles on these stories are available on-line
at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27185076 and http://
www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/723788.html.
2
Drinking Water Institute Features Teacher with Century-old Water Tower
The annual Drinking Water Institute for Educators, held in Lakeville in August, included a visit to a nearby well-drilling site (left).
More than 20 teachers attended the three-day Institute, where they learned about drinking water and ways to incorporate it into
their science curriculum. This was the seventh Drinking Water Institute to be held. The Institutes are co-sponsored by Minnesota
American Water Works Association and the Minnesota Department of Health and conducted with the participation of the Hamline
University Center for Global Environmental Education. The 2009 Institute will be held August 10-12 in Oakdale. More information
on the Institutes is available at http://health.state.mn.us/water/institute/index.htm.
One of the teachers in the 2008 Institute, Maggie Killeen, lives in an 1853 house in Prescott, Wisconsin, with her husband, Michael
Adrian. The home, on the St. Croix River, has a copper water tower on the property (shown in the center and right photos above).
According to Maggie, who teaches in the St. Paul school system, documents and newspaper clippings indicate that the water
tower was built in 1903. “It was first powered by a windmill and then later by a gasoline engine,” said Maggie, adding that her
husband this year unearthed the last of the pipes leading to the tower from the river.
REGISTRATION FORM FOR SPRING SCHOOLS
You may combine fees on one check if more than one person is attending a school; however, please make a copy of this
form for each person. Questions regarding registration, contact Jeanette Boothe at 651-201-4697.
To receive an exam application and/or study guide, contact Noel Hansen at 651-201-4690 or Mark Sloan at 651-201-4652.
Southeast School, March 11-13, 2009. Ramada Hotel and Conference Center, Rochester. Fee: $135 ($145 after March
2 or at the door).
Southwest School, April 1, 2009. Redwood Area Community Center, Redwood Falls. Fee: $25 ($30 at the door).
Metro School, April 7-9, 2009. Ramada Mall of America, Bloomington. Fee: $155 ($190 after March 26 or at the door).
Name
Employer
Address
City
Zip
Day Phone
E-mail Address
Please enclose the appropriate fee. Make check payable to Minnesota AWWA. Mail this form and fee to Drinking
Water Protection Section, Minnesota Department of Health, P. O. Box 64975, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975.
3
92nd Annual Minnesota AWWA Conference
The 92nd annual Minnesota American Water Works Association (AWWA) Conference was held in September in Duluth. Association
representative Jerry Stevens presented the George Warren Fuller award to Jon Eaton of Bloomington (above left). Outgoing chair
Karla Peterson received a plaque of appreciation from incoming chair Bill Spain (above right). In the photos below, Jerry Stevens
presents a Life Member award to Dan Boyce of East Grand Forks and the Volunteer of the Year award to Lisa Vollbrecht of St. Cloud.
Below right, Naeem Qureshi of Progressive Consulting Engineers accepts the Leonard N. Thompson award.
Spring 2009 Schools
The 2009 Metro Waterworks Operators School will be held from Tuesday,
April 7 through Thursday, April 9 at the Ramada Mall of America (formerly the
Thunderbird) in Bloomington. Participants in the school will receive 16 credit
hours for their attendance. The registration for the school will be $155 ($190 at
the door or after March 26). An agenda for the school will appear in the Spring
2009 Waterline.
Other spring schools:
• Southeast School, March 11-13, Ramada Hotel and Conference Center,
Rochester
• Southwest School, April 1, Redwood Area Community Center, Redwood Falls
• Northeast School, May 13-15, Grand Ely Lodge, Ely
• Central School, June 10-12, Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge near Deerwood
A registration form for the Metro and Southeast schools on page 3.
Information on all district schools is at
http://mnawwa.org/operator_training.
4
St. Joseph Treatment Plant Reduces Sludge, Looks Good
The world abounds with
examples of form taking
precedence over function.
However, the water treatment
plant in St. Joseph, Minnesota,
combines function and form.
The plant, which opened in
2007 and removes iron and
manganese, is on the edge of
town, across Interstate 94
from the rest of the city.
Now standing virtually
alone off the freeway and
Stearns County Road 2, the
plant was designed to be
aesthetically pleasing in
anticipation of the additional
development that will be
taking place in the area.
“They didn’t want to build a
typical square building,” said
operator Mike Sworski.
“Being the first ones out here,
they wanted to set a pattern.”
With an arch and a curved
roof, the structure has more
of a look of a community
center rather than a municipal
utility.
But the building has some
brawn in addition to the beauty as it features plate settlers to
reduce the sludge, which typically would go to a sanitary
sewer. The sewer is nearly a mile away, and plans to extend
the line aren’t in the works and won’t be until
future development reaches the outskirts. “We figured that
out rather quickly when we got across the freeway,” said
John Thom of SEH, Inc. of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, the
design-engineering firm. With the sewer not an
option, the plant was built with plate settlers, normally used
in the wastewater industry, to keep the sludge to a minimum.
The sludge is stored on site before being hauled into town.
The backwash water is
recycled at 10 percent of the
raw-water flow coming into
the plant. “So if we have 800
gallons coming in, 80 gallons
go into plate settler,”
explained Sworski.
The end result is 2 percent
or less of waste from the
backwash water. Sworski
noted that at the old plant,
which is still being used,
the backwash water sits for
eight hours. At the new
plant, they are able to start
the reclaim process right
away.
The new plant oxidizes iron
and manganese through
aeration, then has four cells
of anthracite/greensand
filters. It can produce three
million gallons per day, three
times the capacity of the old
plant, which is tucked in amid
houses and other buildings
in the heart of St. Joseph,
leaving no room for
expansion. Sand filters
remove primarily iron at the
old plant because water from the wells that serve it is low in
manganese. The plants are run separately, and the water is
blended in the distribution system.
With the construction of the new plant came three new
wells and a one-mile extension of the distribution system.
Thom said that the ground had to be built up since they were
below the water table. “They must be above the water table
by two feet,” he explained.
“It was quite the learning process for us,” said Sworski of
the plate settlers, adding, “It definitely does what it’s
supposed to do.”
Plate settlers at the new plant (left). The existing plant (right) in the heart of St. Joseph.
5
CALENDAR
Water Operator Training
Minnesota Section, American
Water Works Association
Minnesota Rural Water Association
Contact Kyle Kedrowski, 800-367-6792.
*March 11-13, Southeast Water
Operators School, Ramada Hotel and
Conference Center, Rochester. Contact
Dean Huschle, 507-645-3051.
December 10, Operation and &
Maintenance, Biwabik
January 14, Operation and &
Maintenance, LeCenter
*April 1, Southwest Water Operators
School, Redwood Area Community
Center, Redwood Falls. Contact Mark
Sweers, 507-389-5661.
*March 3-5, Technical Conference, St.
Cloud
*April 7-9, Metro Water Operators
School, Ramada Mall of America,
Bloomington. Contact Jeanette Boothe,
651-201-4697, or Stew Thornley,
651-201-4655.
June 16, Wahkon
*May 13-15, Northeast Water
Operators School, Grand Ely Lodge, Ely.
Contact Jeanette Boothe, 651-201-4697,
or Stew Thornley, 651-201-4655.
*June 10-12, Central Water
Operators School, Ruttger’s Bay Lake
Lodge, Deerwood, Contact Lisa
Vollbrecht, 320-255-7225.
April 8, Elbow Lake
St. Cloud Technical College
Contact Keith Redmond or Bill Spain,
320-308-5952.
Safe Water for All Minnesota People
Contact Mary Klein, 218-235-2162.
MRWA Class D and E Training
December 11, Elbow Lake (Class E)
March 4, St. Cloud (Class D)
April 7, Cohasset (Class D)
Note: Class D workshops are eight hours,
and Class E workshops are four hours.
The morning session of a Class D workshop is the same as a stand-alone fourhour workshop for Class E
operators; thus, Class E operators may
attend either the stand-alone four-hour
workshop or the morning session of the
Class D workshop.
*Includes a water certification exam.
To be eligible to take a certification exam, applicants must have hands-on
operations experience at a drinking water system.
For an up-to-date list of events, see the training calendar on the MDH web site at:
http://health.state.mn.us/water/wateroperator/trng/wat_op_sched.html
MDH Drinking Water Protection: http://www.health.state.mn.us/water
WATER LINE
NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIERS IN MINNESOTA
Environmental Health Division
625 North Robert Street
P. O. Box 64975
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
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St. Paul, MN