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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes January 18, 2022 4 | Page Councilmember Cacioppo asked the MPCA if they could just pull the licenses for all that are licensed producers. The problem is that licenses are only required if the use is over a certain amount, and in many cases, the use might have been small and harder to track. The MPCA has to look at any and all historical contamination as well. Resident Robbie Pientka asked the MPCA is they tested swamps and around the railroad tracks. The MPCA responded that they collected in that general area. The MPCA has tested wells and surface water, but have not done any soil testing. Resident Tom Bolfing asked the MPCA what the risk factors of ingesting 1,4-dioxane were. The MPCA responded that health risks are continually being evaluated but the effects of consuming the water over a lifetime is not showing a major health risk. Mayor Artig-Swomley asked the MPCA if she was correct in reading that this contamination is not one that is routinely tested for. The MPCA responded that she was correct, but it is becoming a contaminant of emerging concern. Mayor Artig-Swomley also asked the MPCA how long they think this will take to come up with a solution. The MPCA responded that they can’t pin down an exact date, but that they don’t want the City of Gem Lake residents to be dependent on bottled water longer than they have to. Water Study – Justin Gese, SEH In 2006 the City of Gem Lake had a Municipal Water Supply Feasibility Study completed. This study evaluated potential for constructing an independent water system, as well as a city-wide water distribution system with source water provided by one of the neighboring communities. The City of Gem Lake has commissioned SEH for an update. Gem Lake will have an average day demand (ADD) of 64,800 gpd residential based and 87,572 gpd land use based. The maximum day demand (MDD) of 194,400 gpd residential based and 262,716 gpd land use based. This is a conservative assumption. Total MDD of 457,116 gpd or 0.457 million gallons per day (MGD). The water quality of White Bear Township meets all State and Federal regulations. WBT has six (6) wells that are treated with chemical additives, but only one (1) of the six (6) wells is treated with filtration. The water is not softened, and is around 18 grains per gallon, which is considered very hard water. Manganese levels were detected in their wells in the range of 0.116-0.200 mg/l. The water quality of White Bear Lake meets all State and Federal regulations. Water from all four (4) wells goes through treatment at a water treatment plant. The water is softened to a level of 5 to 7 grains per gallon, which is considered moderately hard water. The WBL water system has excess capacity and should be able to supply Gem Lake’s estimated ADD of 0.15 MGD and MDD of 0.46 MGD. WBT water systems may require increased water appropriations permit limit and additional capacity to be able to supply Gem Lake. The hydraulic model created would be if Gem Lake was served from a single connection to either WBL or WBT. A loop based distribution system would essentially be the same for either WBL or WBT. WBL can provide adequate pressures and fire flows. WBT would need a pressure booster to provide adequate pressures and fire flows.