2015-02-11 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Draft North & East Metro Groundwater Management Area Plan 2-20 Water Quality Water quality affects the availability and cost of groundwater in the GWMA. Contaminated groundwater may not be available for use by individuals, industry or cities unless it undergoes treatment.Consumers may have to use deeper aquifers or rely on surface water sources (e.g. Mississippi River). Contaminated groundwater also presents a risk to the connected ecosystems(lakes, streams and wetlands), impacting the species that live there and the people who use these water bodies to hunt, fish, and recreate. Although locations of groundwater quality concerns were not used to define the GWMA boundary,the boundary does not divide or cross major areas of groundwater quality problems or limitations.Special Well Construction Areas (Figure 2-10) and Southern Washington County PFC(perfluorochemicals) contamination plumes are included in the GWMA boundary. Special controls on the construction or modification of wells are enforced in the MDH designated areas to protect water supplies from known contamination. The MPCA maintains a record of plumes that may impact water availability in the GWMA, including both smaller plumes and the large (multi-acre)groundwater contamination plumes in bedrock aquifers identified in Figure 2-10. In some cases, pollution containment wells are used to limit movement of contaminated groundwater into less contaminated or uncontaminated areas of the aquifers. Pollution containment wells with DNR appropriation permits are indicated on Figure 2-10. P47