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Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br /> Water Study Commissioned <br />by City (continued from page 1) <br /> <br />At the February City Council meeting, SEH was asked <br />to develop Phase Two of this water study. This second <br />phase would evaluate options for phasing in a water <br />system to the part of the city potentially most in need of <br />municipal water. <br /> <br />It would also look at possibilities for municipal water <br />that could involve working with the City of Vadnais <br />Heights. This portion of the water study is expected to <br />be presented in the next few months. <br /> <br />This work is being done in response to contamination of <br />the chemical 1,4 Dioxane that has been found in small <br />amounts in 22 wells in the northwestern area of the City <br />of Gem Lake. <br /> <br />The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) <br />presented an update of their on-going investigation of <br />this contamination at the January City Council Meeting. <br />Their focus will be determining where the contamination <br />came from, whether it is spreading and what options <br />exist for mitigation. <br /> <br />They emphasized that a municipal water system is one <br />option. Other options available to affected homeowners <br />could include drilling new wells or possibly installing a <br />home water filtration system. <br /> <br />(The MPCA is available to discuss options and updates <br />at any time with any Gem Lake resident. Call Tim <br />Grape, MPCA at 651-757-2893. His email is <br />timothy.grape@state.mn.us.) <br /> <br />Last fall, the chemical 1,4 dioxane was detected in a <br />handful of residential wells in Gem Lake. Minnesota <br />Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota <br />Department of Health (MDH) conducted extensive <br />testing of residential wells across the City of Gem Lake. <br /> <br />Based on this testing work, it was determined that <br />samples collected from the 22 wells had levels of 1,4 <br />dioxane at or above the established health risk limit <br />(HRL) that MDH considers safe for drinking water. <br /> <br />Since that time, the MPCA and the MDH have worked <br />closely with the city to answer questions, and help <br />evaluate future strategies for ensuring safe water <br />supplies. <br /> <br />The MPCA is expected to do continued well testing this <br />summer, as well as additional and on-going work to <br />determine the source or sources of the original <br />problem. <br /> <br />City of Gem Lake Clean Up Day <br />is May 21 <br /> <br />After a hiatus of several years, Gem Lake will once <br />again sponsor a city clean-up day on Saturday May 21, <br />starting at 9:00 a.m. The event will have two parts — a <br />street clean-up and a trash to treasure exchange. <br /> <br />Street Clean-Up <br /> <br />For the street clean up you can stop by Heritage Hall <br />between 9-Noon to pick up industrial strength trash <br />bags. Then, you pick a street or block you want to clean <br />up. Your filled bags can then be left in the Heritage Hall <br />parking lot. At noon, hot dogs, chips and soft drinks will <br />be available for your hungry crew. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Trash to Treasure <br /> <br />The second part of the event is called “Trash to <br />Treasure.” Put any useable items you are longing to <br />give away at the end of your driveway in the morning. <br />Put a sign on the item that clearly marks your items as <br />“free.” You can also drive around and see what <br />everyone else has put out — maybe you will see some <br />treasure. You will be responsible for hauling your things <br />back from the street at the end of the day in the unlikely <br />event that nobody falls in love with them. This event will <br />run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. <br /> <br /> <br />