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<br /> GEMLK 186534 <br />Page 1 <br />Feasibility Study <br />Gem Lake Water Main Extension Ph. 1 <br />Prepared for City of Gem Lake, Minnesota <br />1 Background <br />This feasibility report outlines a plan to provide municipal drinking water to Gem Lake properties <br />located along Goose Lake Road, Tessier Road, Haven Lane, Big Fox Road, and Little Fox Lane. <br />The report was authorized by the City Council at their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 17, <br />2025. <br />Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH®) prepared a Municipal Water Supply Feasibility Study in <br />2006 and again in 2022 for the City of Gem Lake. That study reviewed options to provide a <br />municipal water supply system throughout the entire city of Gem Lake. <br />Recently the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Minnesota Department of Health <br />(MDH) completed sampling for 1,4-dioxane, a likely known human carcinogen, in private wells in <br />Gem Lake. Results of the sampling showed levels above the MDH health-based guidance value <br />for 1,4-dioxane in some of the private wells in Gem lake. <br />The proposed improvements include extending a water system from the City of Vadnais Heights <br />along Labore Road, which was previously described as Priority 1 option 1 in the latest 2022 <br />Feasibility Study. <br />2 Existing Conditions <br />Currently, most residents and businesses in Gem Lake rely on private wells for their water <br />supply. Exceptions include AutoNation, the White Bear Montessori School, and the Villas off <br />County Rd E which receive water from Vadnais Heights, as well as properties served by the 2016 <br />water main extension along Scheuneman Road, supplied by White Bear Lake. <br />The proposed project area includes Labore Road, a rural county roadway, along with several <br />local rural streets primarily centered within the existing right-of-way. Portions of these streets <br />pass through wooded areas adjacent to the roadway. <br />3 Proposed Improvements <br />The 2022 study recommended connecting to the City of Vadnais Heights for several reasons. <br />Vadnais Heights is currently working with a developer to extend a 12-inch water main within the <br />ditch along the west side of Labore Road up to Little Fox Lane, providing a convenient <br />connection point for the proposed extension. Installing the water main within the ditch will also <br />help minimize impacts to Labore Road, a county roadway that was resurfaced only a few years <br />ago.