Duluth Water Survives the Water
Jim Sadler Has a Cow
Lyle Stai of Minnesota American Water Works Association
during calmer times in Duluth.
Heavy rains on June 20 caused havoc in Duluth, killing
animals in the zoo, washing out roads, and creating extensive damage around the city. However, Howard Jacobson,
the operations manager for Duluth’s gas and water supply,
said they were fortunate in being able to keep a safe supply
of drinking water flowing to their residents. A main break
in the Piedmont Hills neighborhood was quickly isolated,
affecting only a few homes and bringing no loss of pressure.
The Fond du Lac neighborhood was underwater from the
St. Louis River, but samples taken after the water receded
showed no bacteriological contamination. Jacobson said the
turbidity of water from Lake Superior was “way up” and that
they noted large temperature swings in their surface water,
causing them to use more chemicals. “All in all, knock on
wood, we did pretty darn good considering how much the
storm impacted the city,” said Jacobson.
Meanwhile, Karla Peterson, supervisor of the Community
Water Supply Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health
(MDH), says this and other events caused by heavy rains
this spring and summer is a reminder that any water system
experiencing problems with a natural disaster or other situation (low pressure, chemical overfeed, upstream spills, etc.)
should call MDH (651-201-5386) and the state duty officer
(800-422-0798) and report the incident.
For more information on responses to the floods in northeastern Minnesota, see the story on page 2.
Fall 2012 Volume Twenty/1
Inside:
Maple Grove utility superintendent Jim Sadler has been raising
South Devon beef cattle in St. Francis. At 5 a.m. on June 30,
he oversaw the birth of Miss Abby to Tessa (above). Jim had
been raising horses until four years ago, when he switched,
along with Gail Johnson, to cattle. Last January, he took a
heifer, Dynamite Kisser (below), to the National Western Stock
Show in Denver, where she took first in her class. Jim and
Gail are working with ranchers Dar and Lynn Giess on their
cattle business.
Liquid Assets Minnesota News
T. C. Bear Taps Minneapolis Water
Health-based Guidance for Manganese
New MDH District Engineer Amy Lynch
Liquid Assets Minnesota News
MnWARN Responds to Northeastern
Minnesota Flooding
Alva Rankin of SEH, Inc. of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota,
died in a traffic accident on July 23. Alva was active in
the planning and execution of the Liquid Assets Minnesota
documentary that has been shown on public television over
the last year. Alva was also interviewed for the program on
water, wastewater, and stormwater issues.
Portions of Liquid Assets Minnesota, a local look at issues
explored in the national Liquid Assets documentary, were
shown on the July 20, 2012 edition of Twin Cities Public
Television’s Almanac as a follow-up to the June flooding in
Duluth. The update included segments of interviews done
with Duluth mayor Don Ness last year when the documentary
was filmed as well as a recent interview with the mayor regarding the impact the floods had on the city’s infrastructure.
Mayor Ness will be speaking about the floods at the Minnesota American Water Works Association annual conference
in Duluth on September 21.
The catalyst behind Liquid Assets Minnesota, Andrew
Sullivan of Eden Prairie, will receive the Public Education
Award from the Water Environment Federation (WEF) at
its technical exhibition and conference in New Orleans this
fall. The award recognizes WEF members for significant
accomplishments in promoting awareness and understanding of water environment issues among the general public
through the development and implementation of public
education programs.
The Minnesota Water/Wastewater Agency Response
Network (MnWARN) was activated after heavy rains caused
massive flooding in northeastern Minnesota in June.
A mutual-aid agreement, MnWARN was established in
2007 to provide prompt statewide response to utility emergencies and disasters in the state. It allowed for quick response
to cities in southeast Minnesota during flooding in 2010, and
the network was able to act quickly to similar problems to
the north this summer.
Dave Isaacson, the MnWARN representative in northeast
Minnesota and the water superintendent in Kettle River,
which was affected by the rain, called Marty Glynn, the statewide vice chair and the regional representative in the Twin
Cities area, with a call for help for his community and others.
MnWARN was able to provide pumps and personnel
to Kettle River as well as Carlton, Thomson, Wrenshall,
Barnum, Moose Lake, Willow River, and Sturgeon Lake.
The help came from utilities in Braham, Cohasset,
St. Cloud, Remer, Zimmerman, Fridley, North St. Paul,
Victoria, Monticello, Minneapolis, and St. Francis as well
as from Minnesota Rural Water Association.
MnWARN now has approximately 270 member utilities
in Minnesota. MnWARN membership is free. Wrenshall,
Barnum, Moose Lake, and Thomson signed up at the time
of the emergency in June, but communities can join anytime
through the MnWARN website at http://mnwarn.org.
Glynn has seen how the organization quickly mobilizes
resources for utilities in need. “It makes for easier emergency
response,” he said. “Doing your planning before it happens.”
MDH to Require Separate Storage
Rooms for Incompatible Chemicals
Starting January 1, 2013, the Minnesota Department of
Health will require that any plans and specifications submitted for new construction of water treatment plants and pump
houses, etc., include separate storage rooms for all incompatible water treatment chemicals. The Great Lakes Upper
Mississippi River Board Recommended Standards for Water
Works (Ten States Standards), part 5.0.3(d), states that “chemicals that are incompatible are not stored or handled together.”
Separate storage will be defined as separate rooms. Incompatible chemicals will be defined by the U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency guidance document at http://tinyurl.
com/93egocr. In essence, there are six different chemical
groups that must be stored separately: acids, bases, salts
and polymers, adsorption powders, oxidizing powders, and
compressed gases. MDH is considering exempting polymers
(cationic, anionic, and non-ionic) from this requirement.
Existing treatment plants and pump houses that are proposing rehabilitation work after January 1, 2013 will be strongly
encouraged to provide separate storage for the different
chemical classes but will be required to provide secondary
containment for all water treatment chemicals in addition to
providing adequate ventilation for all chemical storage areas.
All future rehabilitation work should include provisions for
separate chemical storage.
Watching a Pro in Action
Taylor Daily, a graduate of Wayzata High School and currently
a Brown University student with an interest in public health,
had the chance to see MDH engineer Bassam Banat (right) at
work and to help him take samples from a community water
system in July.
If you can’t be a good example,
then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.
2
REGISTRATION FORM FOR FALL 2012 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. For questions regarding registration, contact Jeanette Boothe at 651-201-4697.
To request an exam application, contact Noel Hansen at 651-201-4690 or Mark Sloan at 651-201-4652.
Southwest School, October 11, Mankato Sibley Park Pavilion. Fee $30 ($35 after September 26).
Southeast School, October 19, Cabela’s, Owatonna. Fee $30 ($35 after October 5 or at the door).
Northwest School, November 27-29, Holiday Inn on the Lake, Detroit Lakes. Fee: $130 ($140 after November 12).
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 64494, St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0494.
For the Central School October 24 in Collegeville, registration is $45 ($25 for students). Send a check, payable to AWWA
- Minnesota Section, to Laura Schwantz, St. Cloud Water Department, 400 2nd Street South, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301.
Reminder to All Water Operators
When submitting water samples for analyses, remember to do the following:
- Take coliform samples on the distribution system, not at the wells or entry points.
- Write the Date Collected, Time Collected, and Collector’s Name on the laboratory request form.
- Write the Sample Point on the laboratory request form.
- Attach the label to each bottle (do not attach labels to the lab form).
- Include laboratory request forms with submitted samples; make sure the information on the bottle label
and the lab form is the same.
- Use something other than a rollerball or gel pen; the ink may run.
Notify your Minnesota Department of Health district engineer of any e-mail changes for contact people.
If you have questions, call the Minnesota Department of Health contact on the back of all sample instruction forms.
Waterline
Published quarterly by the Drinking Water Protection Section, Minnesota Department of Health
Editor:
Stew Thornley
Staff:
Noel Hansen
Jeanette Boothe
Past issues of the Waterline are available at http://www.health.state.mn.us/water/newsletters.htm
3
Keeping Kids Engaged
High-Hazard Cross Connections as
Significant Deficiencies
What Types of Devices Should I Be Concerned About?
Fourth in a series by MDH engineer David Rindal
Cross-connection control program development can be
a daunting task. The workload created by this effort can
be reduced by limiting initial investigations to potential
high hazard cross connections. The American Water Works
Association (AWWA) Principles and Practices of Water
Supply Operations – Water Transmission and Distribution
(3rd edition) prioritized a list of common cross connections
by hazard level:
Connected System - Hazard Level: High
• Access hole flush
• Agricultural pesticide mixing tanks
• Aspirators
• Boilers
• Chlorinators
• Cooling towers
• Flush valve toilets
• Laboratory glassware or washing equipment
• Plating vats
• Sewage pumps
• Sinks
• Sprinkler system
• Sterilizers
The Minnesota Department of Health has been participating
with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota
Section of American Water Works Association in providing
interactive displays for kids of all ages at the Eco Experience at
the State Fair (above). Coming up with a display that engages
people is a challenge, and a pair of Twin Cities companies
have been specializing in this kind of work. One is KidZibits in
Minneapolis, which develops dynamic displays using creative
designs and an understanding of what attracts visitors to
places such as the Eco Experience as well as museums to
create memorable learning experiences. Blue Rhino Studio
in Eagan also caters to everything from state fair exhibits
to museums. Its office and warehouse (below) contain an
interesting look at museum works in progress. The Minnesota
Department of Health is working with these companies to
develop a new display for the State Fair.
Connected System - Hazard Level: Moderate to High
• Car wash
• Photographic developers
• Pump primers
Connected System - Hazard Level: Moderate
• Baptismal founts
• Dishwashers
• Swimming pools
• Watering troughs
Connected System - Hazard Level: Low to High
• Auxiliary water supply
• Garden hose (sill cocks)
• Irrigation systems
• Solar energy systems
• Water systems
Connected System - Hazard Level: Low to Moderate
• Commercial food processors
Public water supply operators may consider surveying
local licensed plumbers for information regarding connected
systems listed as high hazards in the table above.
ICS Training Available
Training and certification for Water Sector Intermediate (ICS-300) and Advanced (ICS-400) Incident Command System
will be held from Tuesday, December 4 to Friday, December 7 at the Minnesota Department of Health Snelling Office Park
offices in St. Paul. Registration on Tuesday begins at 8:00 a.m., and the workshops will be from 8:30 to 4:00 each day (with
lunches provided). The training is free to all water operators and managers. Registrants must be certified in ICS 100 & 200
as a pre-requisite. To register, go to http://www.horsleywitten.com/advancedICS.
4
T. C. Bear Waters Up
Public Water Supply Profile:
Amy Lynch
Amy Lynch is the new Minnesota
Department of Health engineer for
the Metro-West district. She works
out of the Mankato office and covers Wright, McLeod, Carver, Sibley,
and Nicollet counties, where she
will test the water, perform sanitary
surveys, and work with operators and
the regulated water systems. Amy
graduated with a bachelor of science
degree in civil and environmental engineering from South
Dakota State. She has worked as an environmental engineer
for Bolton & Menk, Inc. in Mankato and as a mechanical
engineering intern for the Mankato water treatment plant.
Born in Bend, Oregon, Amy lived in Oregon until her
family moved to South Dakota when she was 13.
She met her future husband, Mike, when she was at South
Dakota State in Brookings and got married last summer.
They live on a farm in St. Clair, where she spends most of
her spare time. Amy and Mike raise corn and soybeans in
addition to raising beef cattle and hogs and conducting feed
research with dairy steers.
Amy enjoys traveling, especially trips to visit her family in
Oregon, Idaho, California, and South Dakota. Other hobbies
are fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, and skiing. She hasn’t
been hunting but plans to try pheasant hunting this year.
T.C. Bear, mascot of the Minnesota Twins, stayed hydrated at an
event at Bryant Square Park in Minneapolis for the dedication of
a baseball diamond the Twins helped to refurbish this summer.
Minneapolis Water Works brought its tap water station, where
bears and other creatures, including people, found water from
the tap to be just as convenient as bottled water.
MDH Develops Health-Based
Guidance for Manganese
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has developed health-based guidance for manganese, a naturally occurring contaminant that has been associated with aesthetic
problems in water. Many utilities treat their water to reduce
manganese levels to eliminate discolored water.
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency secondary
maximum contaminant level of 50 micrograms per liter
(ug/L) is based on aesthetics, but levels around the state are
often higher. Two levels of guidance, 100 and 300 ug/L, have
historically been in use in Minnesota. MDH’s new guidance
is to use the 100 ug/L level to protect infants (under one year
of age who are formula-fed or given plain tap water) and 300
ug/L to protect children one year of age and older and all adults.
Manganese is an essential element in people and is needed
in small amounts to maintain health. Most people get sufficient amounts from food, and infants younger than one
year of age get adequate amounts from breast milk, food,
or formula. Too much manganese, however, is a concern
for infants, whose brains are still developing and who could
consume more manganese-contaminated water based on
body weight than older children or adults. Recent research
shows that too much manganese from drinking water could
affect learning and behavior in infants and young children.
Breast milk, which contains healthy amounts of manganese, is best for infants. Formula-fed babies may get too much
manganese in their bodies if the formula they drink is mixed
with water that contains high levels of manganese.
Customers who receive water from a public water system
should check with their utility to learn whether the utility
has tested for manganese and, if so, what the levels are in
the treated water. People with private wells, especially with
young infants, should test their water and use a proper filter
to remove manganese from tap water given to infants if the
levels exceed 100 ug/L.
Community public water systems are not required to provide manganese filtration.
Drinking Water Institute Draws
Teachers in St. Cloud
Science teachers from across Minnesota attended the annual
Water Works! A Drinking Water Institute for Educators at St.
Cloud Technical & Community College in August. Developed
by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota
Section of American Water Works Association, the institute
provides three days of classes and interactive projects for
teachers. Moderator Lee Schmitt of Hamline University’s
Center for Global Environmental Education leads the teachers
to develop an action plan for developing inquiry-based activites
that they can integrate into their existing science curriculum.
The teachers will meet again this fall to perform peer-review
work on their action plans. The 2013 Drinking Water Institute
is tentatively scheduled for August 5 to 7 in Rochester. The
institute is free to science teachers in Minnesota. More
information is available at http://www.health.state.mn.us/water/
institute/index.htm.
5
Presort Standard
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 171
St. Paul, MN
Environmental Health Division
625 North Robert Street
P. O. Box 64975
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
CALENDAR
Minnesota Section, American Water Works Association
September 19-21, Annual Conference, Duluth EntertainOwatonna, Contact Bob Dunn, 507-457-8272.
ment Convention Center, Contact Corey Lubovich, 218*October 24, Central Water Operators School, St. John’s
262-7725.
University, Collegeville, Contact Lisa Vollbrecht, 320-2557225.
*October 11, Southwest Water Operators School, Mankato
Sibley Park Pavilion. Contact Jeff Larson, 507-537-7005.
*November 27-29, Northwest Water Operators School,
Detroit Lakes, Contact Brian Bergantine, 218-299-5610.
*October 19, Southeast Water Operators School, Cabela’s,
*Suburban Utilities Superintendents Association School, October
23, Shoreview, Contact Steve Gilberg,
651-675-5250.
Information for all district schools, including agendas, is at
http://www.health.state.mn.us/water/wateroperator/trng/schoolagendas.html
*Includes a water certification exam.
Minnesota Rural Water Association (MRWA), Contact Kyle Kedrowski, 800-367-6792
*October 9-11, Certification ReMRWA Class D and E Training
fresher, St. Cloud
Class D
Class E
*November 20, Operation & MainteOctober 9, Ramsey
October 3, Cloquet
nance, Clarks Grove
October 16, Shakopee
November 20, Rochester
*December 12, Operation & MainteDecember 11, Hutchinson
nace, Biwabik
The workshops listed above include
a certification exam. Other training
dates are available at http://mrwa.com/
trainingcalendar.htm.
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 four-hour
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.
For an up-to-date list of events, see the training calendar on the MDH web site:
http://health.state.mn.us/water/wateroperator/trng/wat_op_sched.html