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