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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-11 UC Packetwater l H[ B R t H° A 11 O F M I N 1, F '. 0_ e AGENDA UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 11, 2024 8:00 AM ROLL CALL II. CLOSED SESSION 1. Pursuant to Minn. Stat 13D.05 subd. 3(b) to discuss attorney -client privileged communication related to the White Bear Lake litigation III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. August 10, 2023 Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes IV. OPEN FORUM — the open forum allows the public to address the commission on subjects which are not a part of the meeting. Commission may take action, reply, orgive direction to staff. Please limityour comments to 5 minutes or less. V. NEW BUSINESS 3. Water main extension 2024 Street Project 4. PFAS Update VI. DIRECTOR/SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE 5. Monthly Gallons Pumped VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS VIII. ADJOURN 6. Next meeting date is February 8, 2024 (499ateir THE NIATNYLALE Of MINN EIOTA UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING August 10, 2023 8:00 A.M. Utilities Superintendent Benson called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Present: Chairman Speedling, Commissioners Hudak, Hutter, Jensen, Whitcomb, Councilmember Polehna Absent: None Staff: Utilities Superintendent Benson, Public Works Director Sanders APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of May 11, 2023 meeting Motion by Chairman Speedling, seconded by Commissioner Whitcomb, to approve the minutes of the May 11, 2023 meeting. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. DIRECTOR/SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE Mr. Sanders gave an update on the following projects: White Bear Lake Work Group Stillwater is a member of a NE Metro work group created by the legislature to address water supply and protection. Over the next four years the group will study options for conversion of ground water supply to surface water supply. This is totally separate from the White Bear Lake mitigation case. Commissioner Jensen asked if the existing surface water plan that included Stillwater, Oak Park Heights and Bayport will be brought to the group, and Mr. Sanders said he will make it available. White Bear Lake Mitigation Update Last week, Attorney David Sienko voiced optimism that Stillwater may be dismissed from the mitigation case, based on the estimated cost to relocate the City's well 20 feet and the assertion that it would be a waste of public money. Mr. Sanders will update the Commission as information is available. Construction Project Update Mr. Sanders reported that Mid Oaks Life Station is completed; the downtown manhole rehabilitation project should clear up some of the I & I issues downtown; hydrant painting will start August 21; and work has begun on the Lily Lake tower pressure release value. He added that staff is working with TKDA to determine the best way to run the system when the water tower is shut down for two Utilities Commission Meeting August 10, 2023 months for painting. He and Mr. Benson will be meeting with TKDA on three projects: 1) a mandated inventory of lead service pipes; 2) PFAs in the well system; 3) a study of the condition of the watermains to prepare for future replacement projects. Mr. Sanders added that the Met Council gave the preliminary estimate of next year's sewer rate increase, 2.5%. Commissioner Jensen asked how the Chestnut Street project is going, and Mr. Sanders answered that all underground work is done and the contractor is working on the traffic signal system, to be followed by curb and sidewalk. Everything should be completed by September 8. Another downtown project in 2024 will be replacement of all downtown lights. Commissioner Hudak asked about telemetry security, and Mr. Sanders said staff is still getting quotes. He added that in the next few weeks, the City will have to decide whether to participate in a 3M settlement regarding PFAs, or forever chemicals. Water Efficiency Rebate Update Mr. Sanders stated that water efficiency rebates of $17,000 have been given as part of a $30,000 grant from the Met Council. Monthly Gallons Pumped Mr. Benson provided the monthly gallons pumped in June: 120,461 million; July: 101,462 million. COMMISSIONER ITEMS There were no Commissioner items. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Chairman Speedling, seconded by Commissioner Hudak, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 a.m. The next meeting date is September 14, 2023. ATTEST: Shawn Sanders, Public Works Director Steve Speedling, Chair Page 2 of 2 �l water ' H E B: R 7 H P L A C E O F M I N N E S 0 I A To: Utility Commission members From: Shawn Sanders, Director of Public Works Date: November 9, 2023 Subject: Propose Water main Connection (Abbot and Willard DISCUSSION Staff has begun the feasibility study for the 2024 Street Improvement Project, which includes Abbot and Willard Street, west of Greeley Street. While researching the existing utilities, we found that that there is no water main on Abbott south of Willard Street and Willard west of Owens. Water for the properties on these two segments are served by two separate private lines that are located in the street, and serve multiple properties. In all there are five properties on the private service and one service that runs across another person's property. Generally, i- is the City standard to have one service per household and be connected to a water main. Since the streets will be torn up for street reconstruction, it is an opportune time to install new water main on both of these streets to loop the water main and to eliminate the private lines in the street. Looping the water main would require about 700 feet of new water main and reconnection of the existing services. We estimate this cost to be $70,000. Staff is requesting that funds be used from the Water Revenue Fund to pay for the water main looping and be included as part of the 2024 Street Improvement Project. ACTION REQUIRED Staff is requesting the Commission consider the request to use water Revenue Funds to pay to loop the water main at Abbot and Willard Street as part of the 2024 Street Improvement Project. = 1116 1 ( 1006 H � pa 14 vow l fA 1017 �06 1225 1215 1209 1125 1117 1111 504 504 Q1 917 901 821 NORTH LILY LCTS 81 • • "J"'d s" w.0 �1 DI., 511 Cv 510 5 5m /� v . ., �� . 1120 TS � 510 517 'S18 ' � 930 924 904 846 • i t st,.et W 2 ^vo •_. i i 71105 1219 I 10 1019 701 921 919 907 905 ``Ols 1109 716 710 711 1303 1115 , • _ WALTER NELSON'S AMMON I . 71$ 17 -•—.-1. �4 720 .nf Qr(4Are716 \ I . 717 r Wr 928 922 916 e\ i 11 1006 721 720 • a . j Aeebafe set.. vbm L 0. l 724JAMMS -- - 1027 ion' 1615 806 WASHING RE 1031 ARK 915 911 S1111wa er ' N F 9: R T H o i A i p O F n1 I N N L S o A To: Utility Commission members From: Shawn Sanders, Director of Public Works Date: November 9, 2023 Subject: Well #6 Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFA's) DISCUSSION This past year, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has been conducting quarterly testing at Well # 6 for PFA's located on South Fourth Street. The past four test results show the PFA's from this well is above the Health Risk Index (HRI) of 1.1 and the MDH now is issuing a Health Risk Advisory for PFA's at Well #6. In April the City was informed by the MDH of the earlier results from testing and that that time the well not been in operation. Staff will be working with MDH and our consultants in sending out messaging regarding this Advisory and looking in to options to get the well operational again. ACTION REQUIRED No action Required at this time MDEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Protecting, Maintaining and Improving the Health of All Minnesotans October 31, 2023 Stillwater City Council c/o Clerk 216 Fourth Street N Stillwater, MN 55082 Subject: Health Risk Advisory for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Stillwater Drinking Water System (PWSID# 1820024) Dear Council Members: This letter is to notify you that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is issuing a Health Risk Advisory for PFAS at Well #6. MDH recommends that the city of Stillwater notify its consumers about PFAS in their drinking water supply. It is important that people consuming the water be informed about any potential health risks and actions they can take to reduce exposure to PFAS from their drinking water, as well as any actions the water system is taking. We encourage the water system to lead this messaging. In addition, MDH recommends that the city of Stillwater plan for and take action to reduce exposure to PFAS to a Health Risk Index (HRI) of 1.0 or below in the drinking water supply. An HRI of 1.0 and below represents a safe level where health effects are unlikely to occur. MDH recommends public health actions once the HRI is 1.1 or greater. More information about the HRI and how it is calculated is provided in this letter. Sample Results The results for the most recent PFAS samples collected from Well #6 Entry Point and analyzed by EPA Method 533 are shown in the table below. The running annual average level of PFAS at Well #6 exceeds an HRI of 1.0, so MDH is issuing this Health Risk Advisory. Stillwater Well #6 Entry Point Sample Results Collection PFBS PFBA PFHxS PFHxA PFOS PFOA Running Date (ng/L) (ng/L) (ng/L) (ng/L) (ng/L) (ng/L) HRI Avg. HRI 8/16/2023 2.2 100 8.5 1.9 14 2.7 1.2 1.3 4/27/2023 2.5 100 9.3 2.3 15 3.4 1.3 1.3 3/7/2023 2.4 120 9.5 2.1 15 3.1 1.3 1.3 11/22/2022 2.4 120 8.5 2.1 14 3.4 1.3 - ng/L = nanograms per liter Bold means that the concentration exceeds a Health Based Value, Health Risk Limit or Health Risk Index An equal opportunity employer. HRI and Health Effects for PFAS MDH has developed health -based guidance values for some PFAS found in drinking water. These guidance values are set at levels which pose little or no health risk to people, including the most sensitive populations. Although the potential for harm increases as the level of a contaminant increases above the guidance value, health scientists may not be able to precisely estimate the change in risk. These guidance values are designed to be protective for exposures over short periods of time as well as over a lifetime. The table below shows the current guidance values for PFAS that MDH uses to evaluate drinking water samples. Current MDH Guidance Values Name of PFAS Guidance Value (ng/L) Perfluorobutane Sulfonate (PFBS) 100 Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) 7000 Perfluorohexane Sulfonate (PFHxS) 47 Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) 200 Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) 15 Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) 35 Because each of these PFAS chemicals can cause similar types of adverse health effects, Minnesota Rules part 4717.7880 requires that when multiple PFAS are found in drinking water, an HRI must be calculated to determine if the combined chemicals increase risk for possible health impacts. Information about how the HRI is calculated is attached and can also be found in Minnesota Rules part 4717.7880. An HRI greater than 1.0 indicates that although a single chemical may not pose a health risk alone, the combined chemicals may indicate an increased risk for possible health impacts. For More Information As a standard practice, MDH notifies the governor's office and area legislators when health risk advisory letters are issued. In addition, MDH is sending a copy of this letter to your local public health department. If you have any questions about health concerns or would like more information about PFAS, contact the MDH Health Risk Assessment Unit at 651-201-4899 or health.risk@state.mn.us. For technical assistance related to the drinking water system, please contact Lucas Martin, District Engineer, at 651-201-4144 or lucas.martin@state.mn.us. More information about PFAS is also available on our website at: MDH PFAS Website (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/hazardous/topics/pfcs.htmi) Sincerely, Thomas P. Hogan Director, Environmental Health Division PO Box 64975 St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 www.health.state.mn.us cc: Kirk Koudelka, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Pam Anderson, Interim Division Director, Remediation Division, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency David Brummel, Director, Washington County Public Health & Environment Enclosure: Health Risk Index Calculation Health Risk Index Calculation Groundwater can contain multiple chemicals. Combinations of chemicals may cause health effects that are different from the health effects of each individual chemical. MDH evaluates the health effects of groups of chemicals using the following process: • Chemicals that share a common health endpoint (such as change to the liver, kidney, or other organ) are evaluated together. If a chemical has no known health effect, it is not included in the group. For each chemical in the group, MDH calculates a ratio of the groundwater concentration of the chemical to the health -based guidance value (HBV) appropriate to the length of exposure for that chemical. MDH adds the ratios for all of the chemicals in the group to create a number called a Health Risk Index (HRI). • An HRI over one indicates a possible health risk from the group of chemicals. Below is an example of how MDH calculates the HRI for mixtures of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) for which we have health -based guidance values: HRI = CPF•OS + CPFOA + CPFBS + CPFI3A + CPF[IxS + CPF11xA PFOS HBV PFOA HBV PFBS FIRV PFBA 1IBV PFHxS fIRV PFHxA HBV CN = the concentration of N chemical that has been detected in groundwater MDH uses procedures stated in the Health Risk Limits Rules for Groundwater for evaluating exposure to multiple chemicals. This process is based on an additive model. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses this model as a reasonable approach given what is unknown about how chemicals interact in the body. Significant Digits and Rounding When health -based guidance values are derived, the calculations include safety factors which may reduce the value by hundreds or thousands of times. Therefore, the final HRI represents a "safe dose" where health effects are unlikely to occur. In general, MDH calculates HRIs to one significant digit. Since HBVs typically have a single significant digit, rounding the HRI to more than one significant digit introduces false precision and can give an inaccurate depiction of risk. For risk management decisions, it can be useful to include an additional significant figure (e.g. decimal point) for HRIs at or slightly above 1. This additional significant figure can be used by risk managers to inform potential actions rather than as a direct indicator of health risk. In these circumstances, MDH uses the following to determine if the HRI is above 1 and further evaluation may be warranted: • HRI of 1-1.04 rounds down to 1.0 HRI of 1.05-1.09 rounds up to 1.1 When the HRI is below 1.1, the health risk is minimal. MDH recommends close monitoring of the situation when an HRI is just below or just above 1 and considering public health actions once the HRI is 1.1 or greater. Although the risk at 1.1 is also unlikely to result in health effects, this value represents a reasonable action level for risk managers to use for further evaluation and decision -making. Calculating an HRI is just the first step in assessing whether a potential risk may need to be addressed. Depending on the situation, further actions may be necessary to ensure the prolonged safety of the water, such as increased monitoring or planning to find a new water source. While the HRI is not a precise predictor of risk, it is one of many tools intended to help risk assessors and managers make more health protective decisions when there are multiple chemicals involved and the health consequences, if any, may not be clear. 3 January February March April May June July August September October November December Million Gallons Pumped 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Monthly Totals Monthly Totals Monthly Totals Monthly Totals Monthly Totals Monthly Totals Monthly Totals Monthly Totals 45271 47827 54174 47578 43126 44488 43203 40179 42187 42360 50969 42335 41409 39016 39417 37754 44082 43799 55676 47276 43148 41908 41176 39817 484841 45235 52580 45808 44003 41587 412481 40316 65753 56415 77250 57949 61400 66124 55346 66143 82031 84085 77502 78308 74342 112800 91793 120461 99063 93342 89533 78536 81984 110149 111197 101462 78478 75439 99896 78626 87645 93628 89626 99966 56973 74893 67085 61054 71455 64168 87366 86614 46825 49115 48481 50054 52576 49781 59028 46495 401351 41620 43112 43786 41754 40311 37840 38504 492301 52404 46710 44426 42857 41322 405691 39214 Total 698512 706534 762968 675736 685699 745282 737809 756925 Jan -Dec 698512 706534 762968 675736 685699 745282 737809 756925 DNR Permited Amount 865,000,000 MGY