3.9 2022 Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Utilities Utility Manager Neidermeier January 24, 2022
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty 3.9 – Wellhead Protection
Plan
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
X Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative
communication.
Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and
expectations in a cost-effective manner.
Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff is recommending the City Council accept the 2022 Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The City maintains a Wellhead Protection Plan (WHP Plan), established in 2005; amended in 2016. The
Plan reviews source water origination and underground movement to establish Drinking Water Supply
Management Areas. Protection of these source waters are complete through the management strategies
and efforts identified in the WHP Plan.
The Public Works Subcommittee reviewed the Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report at the January
meeting with recommendation of acceptance by the City Council.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• Annual Wellhead Protection Annual Report
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to accept the January 2022 Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
N/A N/A
TO: Mayor, Council, City of Otsego
FROM: Kurt Neidermeier
DATE: January 24, 2022
RE: Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report
The Wellhead Protection Plan (WHP) serving the Otsego Public Water System received
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) approval in 2016. The approved plan assessed
source water vulnerability and provides management strategies to protect these sources
effective through 2025. Included are the WHP action items and updates as part of the
Annual Report.
Reporting and Evaluation Action Items:
Complete an annual report and brief the Council on management priorities for the
upcoming year and the status of implementation.
Due annually – This report
2017 March 16, Public Works Subcommittee (PWSC); March 27 Council Consent
2018 February 21, PWSC; February 26 Council Consent
2019 January 23, PWSC; January 28 Council Consent
2020 January 22, PWSC; January 27 Council Consent
2021 February 17, PWSC; February 22 Council Consent
2022 January 19, PWSC; January 24 Council Consent
Priorities for 2022: identify and explore next water source(s) through hydrogeology
study, test well drill and initiate well 10, initiate water system interconnection, water
master plan and capital improvement updates.
Conduct a self-evaluation every 2.5 years on the wellhead protection progress and
submit the report to the MDH Planner.
Due 2018, 2021 & 2024
2018 completed – April 2018 electronic submission.
2021 – March electronic submittal
Inner Wellhead Management Zone (IWMZ) Action Items:
Assist MDH staff in completing the IWMZ Inventory for the Public Water Supply wells.
Due 2021
Status – No additional action required to since completion in 2015
Follow all setback requirements for new potential contaminant sources within the
IWMZ. Continuously monitored
2016 – Monitored and followed
2017 – Monitored and followed
2018 - Monitored and followed
2019 – Monitored and followed
2020 – Monitored and followed
2021 – Monitored and followed
2022 – schedule MRWA to review and document well 9 installation
Implement the WHP Measures and Findings in the IWMZ inventory and requirements of
the Sanitary Survey Report.
2016 – Monitored and followed
2017 – Monitored and followed
2018 - Monitored and followed
2019 - Monitored and followed
2020 – Monitoring and followed
2021 – Monitoring and followed
2022 - Monitoring
Contact the MDH Planner if changes to the locations or construction of potential
contaminant sources are proposed in the IWMZ.
Status – Continuously monitored
2016 – No changes to locations or construction of potential contaminant sources
proposed in the IWMZ.
2017 – No changes to locations or construction of potential contaminant sources
proposed in the IWMZ.
2018 – No changes to locations or construction of potential contaminant sources
proposed in the IWMZ.
2019 - No changes to locations or construction of potential contaminant sources
proposed in the IWMZ.
2020 - No changes to locations or construction of potential contaminant sources
proposed in the IWMZ.
2021 - No changes to locations or construction of potential contaminant sources
proposed in the IWMZ.
2022 - Monitoring
Land Use Controls and Management Action Items:
The City will explore options to strengthen language in the cross-connection ordinance.
Status Complete - Cross-connection ordinance in place and properly regulate
cross connections.
The City maintains and enforces a backflow prevention program.
The City will evaluate their zoning ordinances and make necessary changes to
strengthen controls in regards to properly managing wells and storage tanks within City
limits and the Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMA).
Status Complete – Zoning ordinances are in place and properly support
management areas.
Data Collection Action Items:
Work in cooperation with MDH, collect tritium sample from the public supply wells as
directed by MDH.
Status – MDH has not requested tritium sampling during this Plan cycle as it is in
a 10 year cycle; sampling and anticipated in 2022. The aquifer vulnerability
score is low based on previous sampling.
Incorporate instrumentation within Well#6 in order to provide more detailed water
quantity information.
Status Complete – equipment was installed for level monitoring during 2016 well
inspection and maintenance.
Cooperate with MDH to ensure the City manages radium levels providing safe drinking
water to their residents.
Operations Staff conducts routine monitoring per MDH direction supporting safe
drinking water. A Memorandum of Agreement is in place and reviewed annually
for radium concentrations to mitigate radium levels and maintain water quality
within set standards.
Well 1 - high radium concentrations, removed from service and sealed in 2019.
Well 2 – high radium concentrations, only used for emergency purposes and
included in memorandum of agreement with the MDH.
Well 8 – high radium concentrations, operated minimally to ensure meeting safe
drinking water standards, included within memorandum of agreement.
Well 9 – installed in 2020 to support capacity and water quality.
A Water Master Plan was completed in 2019 adopted by Council in 2020.
The City will contact the MDH Hydrologist and ask for their assistance in helping to
select an alternative site for drilling a new public supply well in the case one is needed
in the future. The City can apply for MDH grants to help offset the cost of exploratory
drilling and water quality sampling etc.…
Status – Operations and Engineering review water supply needs on an annual
basis to ensure demands are met. Capital planning is preparing funding for
additional water storage and water production capacity to meet community
growth.
Irrigation Restrictions have been implemented and educational water
conservation material is available on the City website and reminded within the
Utility Billings.
2016 – Capital Planning for Water System Interconnect – Kadler Ave. Watermain
– Capital Planning for Well 7 Pump Upsizing and Well House 4
improvements
2017 – Interconnect West System Complete – Kadler Ave. Watermain Project
– Water Supply Plan completed and adopted
– Well 5 Maintenance – Pump & Motor replaced
– Water Tower 1 refurbished for added storage support, East Public System
2018 – Well 7 upsized and installed to support the West Public Water System
– Well House 4 improvements completed.
– The City applied for a MDH Competitive Grant for exploration of a new
well during the fall application period. Scoring was not high enough to
receive grant funding at the time and was recommended for reapplication
in 2019.
2019 – Water Master Planning approved prepared for 2020 approval
– Cooperation occurred with the MDH and DNR reviewing locations of a
new water source well for the Public Water System. A test well
successfully identified a new well to be drilled in 2020. Grants were
applied for and received.
2020 – Water Master Plan approved
– Well 9 installed
– Rate Study conducted recommending reinforced irrigation rates
2021 – Received implementation grant for new well exploration scheduled for
2022.
– New water rate structure implemented
– Hydrogeological study approved
Potential Contaminant Source Management Action Items:
The City will apply for a grant via MDH to secure funds to seal any unused, unsealed
wells located within the DWSMAs. If funding is not available via MDH, the City will work
cooperatively with local units of governments to provide as much cost share as possible
to help seal the wells. The City will request MDH Well Management assistance with
locating wells on properties where the City feels there might be unused unsealed wells.
Status – no unused unsealed wells identified at this time. As new developments
are considered, wells within that property are identified and reviewed for closure
or system separation.
Well 1, with high radium concentrations was removed from service and sealed in
2019.
The Wellhead Protection Team/Manager will continually attempt to locate potential
contaminant sources in the DWSMA. This will be accomplished through direct contact
with landowners and through visual observation as the WHP team travels through the
DWSMA.
Status - Ongoing
Cooperate with MDH & DNR Hydrologists as requested to help assess any potential
impacts on the public water supply well(s) or 1.5 miles of the DWSMA boundary. If
impacts are identified cooperatively work with the high capacity well owner, DNR and
MDH Hydrologist to identify and resolve any potential negative impacts.
Status – Ongoing
The City will share information regarding the location of any potential Class V well(s)
with the MDH if any well(s) are located within the DWSMA in the future.
Status – In 2018 a potential Class V well was investigated through
communication of the MDH and EPA however found compliant.
No Class V wells have been identified by the WHP team.
The City will contact the MPCA tank program and ask MPCA to update them on the
Leaky Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) site located within their Central DWSMA and
communicate the risk this site may have on the City’s drinking water supply.
Status Complete – communications with MPCA have occurred with official
request for information complete.
It is always difficult to foresee or plan for the future. If a critical issue or potential
contaminant threat becomes an issue in the future for the City, the City will promptly
take actions to prevent this contaminant source from polluting their drinking water
supply.
Status – Continuous
Public Education and Outreach Action Items:
The City will provide a short summary of the new wellhead protection amendment in
the City’s newsletter and direct residents to the City’s website for detailed education
materials.
2017 – A short summary of the Wellhead Protection amendment was added to
the City Website and linked to the MDH “Well Owner’s Handbook - A Consumer’s
Guide to Water Wells in Minnesota” Fourth Edition updated January 2014 to
provide a reference for well maintenance and water safety.
Post WHP educational materials on the city website dealing with proper well
management, water conservation etc.…..
Completed – water conservation ideas and suggestions are available on the City
website along with linked MDH reference information on well management.
Provide the MRWA Essay and Poster contest information to the school yearly and
encourage participation.
Due and completed annually each winter
MRWA classroom activities are distributed to all three Otsego schools for
consideration to include in lesson plans of the 4th grade students.
2020 – poster contest winner
Members of the Wellhead Protection Team include Ron Wagner; HAI and Otsego Utility
Operations: Seth Wilkes, Reese Carstens, Nick Beste, Robert Small, Andy Lindenfelser,
Renee Devries, Austin Schiller and Wellhead Protection Manager Kurt Neidermeier.