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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-18 PACKET 04.B.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # Z1 ' 4 6 DATE 1/18/12 PREPARED BY Engineering Jennifer Levitt ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Authorize the submittal of the Wellhead Protection Program Evaluation to the Minnesota Department of Health. STAFF RECOMMENDATION It is recommended the Council authorize the submittal of the Wellhead Protection Program Evaluation to the Minnesota Department of Health. ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED ❑ PLANNING ❑ ❑ ❑ • PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ ❑ ❑ • PUBLIC WORKS ❑ ❑ ❑ • PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ENVIRONMENTAL COMM. 1/11/12 ® ❑ ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ® MEMO /LETTER: Jennifer Levitt, January 12, 2012 ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ® OTHER: City of Cottage Grove Wellhead Protection Program Evaluation, January 3, 2012 ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS I l y Administrator Date COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER H: \COUNCIL FORMS \Council 1 -18 -12 \Council Action Form Authorizing wellhead protect program.doc 1*14� CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE MINNESOTA To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator From: Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer Date: January 12, 2012 Subject: Authorize Submittal of Wellhead Protection Program Evaluation BACKGROUND /DISCUSSION: The City of Cottage Grove adopted the Wellhead Protection Plan — Part 2 in 2005. Wellhead protection is a means of safeguarding public water supply wells by helping prevent contaminants from entering the area that contributes water to a well or well field over a period of time. This is required in Minnesota by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The MDH initiated its Wellhead Protection Program in response to the 1986 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the MDH's statutory authority was granted in the Minnesota Groundwater Protection Act of 1989. Since 2005 the City has been implementing and executing the items laid out in the Plan. The enclosed Wellhead Protection Program Evaluation is requested to be submitted to the MDH every two and a half years. The Environmental Commission reviewed the evaluation on January 11, 2012. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended the Council authorize the submittal of the Wellhead Protection Program Evaluation to the Minnesota Department of Health. City of Cottage Grove Wellhead Protection Program Evaluation Evaluation Completed By Harry Taylor, Public Works Supervisor (Wellhead Protection Manager): Date Evaluation Completed: January 3, 2012 (Draft) Plan Evaluation Frequency: According to the wellhead protection plan if less than 2.5 years. X 12.5 years When a wellhead protection plan is amended. Copies of Evaluation Presented or Sent to: ❑ Minnesota Department of Health Attn: Trudi Witkowski Environmental Health Division Source Water Protection Unit P.O. Box 64975 St. Paul, MN 55164 -0975 ❑ Cottage Grove City Council (Date Presented) ❑ City's Wellhead Protection File A. List the unique number and locations of new wells installed since the last plan evaluation: Unique Well Number Date Online Delineation Completed? 655944 (Well No. 11) 2005 Preliminary WHP Delineation Only B. List any new facilities or changes in current facilities in the drinking water supply management area(s) that may be of concern with regard to groundwater quality (list the facility name and nature of concern): Facility Name Change Distance to Well Well Number Date Change Made No changes C. Was any component of the contingency plan implemented by your system at any time since the last program evaluation? ❑ Yes (What was the reason? ® No List changes that are needed in the contingency plan and update the plan accordingly 1. No changes needed at present. 2. 3. In letters A -D below, complete the sections that apply to the evaluation approaches that were specified in your wellhead protection plan (Chapter 6). A. Sampling the quality of groundwater throughout the drinking water supply management area. (Summarize efforts or attach report of sampling results and conclusions.) In general, groundwater quality within the DWSMA appears to have remained the same over the course of the plan implementation. However, since the plan was approved, Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) have been discovered in a large amount of public and private wells in Southern Washington County, related to landfill sites previously operated by the 3M Company. In the Cottage Grove municipal wells, the main PFCs detected in the water supply is perflucrobutanoic acid (PFBA). Concentrations in the municipal wells range between 0.3 ppb to 1.79 ppb. The MDH has established a health -based value (HBV) of 7.0 ppb for drinking water, which is based on analysis of the effects of PFBA on laboratory animals. To date, none of the Cottage Grove municipal wells have exceeded the HBV for PFBA. Certain other PFCs, including PFPeA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFBS, and PFHxS have been detected in the municipal wells, but only in low concentrations (usually below the laboratory reporting limit). Health based values for PFOA (0.5 ppb) and PFOS (0.3 ppb) have been established by the MDH, but current concentrations are less than the reporting limit of 0.05 ppb. Prior to the discovery of PFCs in the area, the main contaminant of concern in the Cottage Grove area was nitrates. Nitrates tends to be of greater concern for private wells in the eastern side of the City (outside the Drinking Water Supply Management Area, DWSMA). Nitrates sampling in municipal wells indicates that concentrations are well below the l Omg/L threshold and do not appear to be increasing at present. B. Documenting inventory control of potential contaminants. (Summarize efforts.) The number and status of private wells within the DWSMA was not known with a high degree of certainty following the completion of the Part 2 Wellhead Protection Plan. As a result, Cottage Grove initiated a well survey in the Summer of 2011. The survey targeted properties thought to either contain a well or have reasonable probability of containing a well. Survey results are still being processed, but some wells have already been identified on parcels where they had not been previously known to exist. Results of the well survey will be used towards updating the potential contamination source inventory when Cottage Grove updates their Wellhead Protection Plan. The City has also inventoried changes to storage tanks at a number of properties located within the DWSMA. Four fueling stations have been documented as either replacing their storage tanks or removing them altogether. Two City -owned facilities (City Hail and Fire Station 2) have also recently replaced their underground storage tanks, as part of the effort that facilities are properly maintained. City staff have also been working with area schools to investigate removing /replacing a number of low volume tanks located on school properties. City staff also maintain their inventory of potential contaminants through regular site plan reviews they conduct. A component of these plan reviews is to identify any possible introduction of contamination sources to the DWSMA that could impact surface water and groundwater. C. Documentation of the implementation of wellhead protection measures. (Summarize efforts.) Public Education Cottage Grove established a web page for wellhead protection shortly after the completion of the Part 2 Wellhead Protection Plan. The page can be view at this link: http://www.cottaRe-grove.org/public ve.org /public works environment wellhead.htm The page contains information about private wells, septic systems, household hazardous wastes, lawn chemicals, and Class V injection wells. Additionally, other Cottage Grove web pages contain information on stormwater runoff, recycling, waste disposal, and water conservation. Cottage Grove also reaches its resident through the annual Consumer Confidence Report, which not only outlines the water quality data for the municipal wells, but educates residents on ways they can help conserve water and prevent pollution. For example, the 2011 Consumer Confidence Report included information on reducing pollution in stormwater runoff. The 2011 report can be viewed at this link: http: / /www.cottage- grove.org /dots /pub works /2010 water quality report.pdf The Wellhead Protection Plan was also presented to the City's Environmental Commission in September 2011, in an effort to educate Commission members on the role of wellhead protection in the community. Going forward, Commission members will be able to make more educated decisions on environmental issues, knowing that wellhead protection is vital to protecting drinking water supplies. Public Works staff are also involved in making periodic presentations to local grade school children. These efforts inform the children of where their drinking water comes from, so they can be aware of how land uses can impact their drinking water. Wells As already mentioned, Cottage Grove undertook an effort in Summer 2011 to survey potential well owners within the DWSMA. This effort was funded, in part, by a wellhead protection implementation grant received by the MDH in late 2010. In addition to surveying properties thought to contain wells, Cottage Grove distributed a fact sheet that educates private well owners the best management practices for maintaining and operating their wells. Results of the well survey are still being processed. Inner Wellhead Management Zone No new sources of potential contamination are known to have been placed within the 200 foot radius surrounding Cottage Grove's municipal wells. Turf Management Cottage Grove provides turf management tips on their website and provides links to the University of Minnesota Extension about proper turf management practices. Septic Systems Cottage Grove staff work with Washington County to manage septic systems in the area. When Cottage Grove identifies a site that may contain an out -of- compliance septic system, the property is reported to Washington County for further investigation. Storage Tanks The City of Cottage Grove has undertaken the effort to remove and replace aging underground storage tanks at their own facilities. To date, tanks have been replaced at both City Hall and Fire Station 2. The underground storage tank at the fire station was located in the highly vulnerable portion of the DWSMA. This tank is being replaced by a new aboveground storage tank that will have more modern leak protection safeguards. To accomplish this effort, Cottage Grove obtained a source water protection competitive grant from the MDH. Cottage Grove expects to complete this tank replacement by early 2012. Household Hazardous Waste Cottage Grove actively educates its residents on the proper disposal of household hazardous wastes. The City's website contains information on the proper disposal of hazardous wastes and provides information on where wastes can be safely disposed of. Additionally, Cottage Grove hosts an annual Washington County spring cleanup /hazardous waste collection day at Public Works. The most recent collection event took place on May 7, 2011. Urban Stormwater Management Cottage Grove maintains an up -to -date Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan in order to meet MPCA permit requirements. The Cottage Grove website contains a web page outlining how stormwater can affect local water resources. Various educational topics and links are providing, detailing the impacts that stormwater quality has on the environment. The web page can be viewed here: http://www.cottage- grove.org//public works environment stortnwater.shtml Cottage Grove has taken an active step in lining several stormwater ponds and drainage areas, to prevent possible infiltration of contaminants into highly vulnerable portions of the DWSMA. Examples of such activities include: • C -P 1 Pond Improvements (2006) — City installed a pond liner to protect groundwater resources and maintain a more regular normal water level • CP Rail Pond /Hemingway Avenue (2006) — City required that the developer line the stormwater pond in very close proximity to Well 10 to protect groundwater resources • Pinecliff 2 °d Addition (2006) — City required that developer clay line one of the site stormwater ponds, when bedrock was encountered during excavation • Southpoint Ridge (2007) - City required that the developer clay line the stormwater pre - treatment cell and filtration basin in the DWSMA to protect groundwater resources • C -P7 Pond Improvements (2007) — City spread onsite heavy fill material in bottom and side slopes of a pond in the DWSMA to protect groundwater resources and maintain a more regular normal water level • Norris Square Senior Housing (2007) — City required that the developer line the stormwater pond to protect groundwater resources • Hamlet Park Pond Expansion /Warner Electric Pond (2008) — the City clay lined the stormwater pond wet cells and channels in very close proximity to Well 10 to protect groundwater resources and maintain a normal water level in the system • ED -P6 Pond Improvements (2009) —the City clay lined a pretreatment wet pond in the DWSMA to protect groundwater resources • Pond C-P6 (2011) — City lined two wet pond cells and a 'filtration trench in the DWSMA with clay material to protect groundwater resources and maintain a normal water level in the wet ponds Additionally, Cottage Grove is currently undertaking the effort to develop a spill response plan in their Wellhead Protection Area. This effort is being funded, in part, through a wellhead protection implementation grant received by the MDH in late 2010. To date, Cottage Grove has held a tabletop training sessions with local emergency responders (fire, police), City staff, County staff, State agency staff (MDH, MPCA), 3M staff, and railroad staff to review how a spill event can not only affect immediate public safety, but can have long term impacts on groundwater quality within the DWSMA. Results of this tabletop training are being used to develop a written spill response plan. The draft plan is expected to be completed in late 2011, with a final version ready no later than June 2012. High Capacity Wells Southern Washington County is one of the major hubs of growth in the Twin Cities area. Both the cities of Cottage Grove and Woodbury are planning to add a number of municipal water supply wells over the coming 20 -30 years to accommodate this growth. In order to prevent adverse impacts to the aquifer and natural resources, both cities have joined together with the Met Council, DNR, MDH, MPCA, local watershed districts, and Washington County to form the South Washington Water Supply Group. The group is currently looking to fund a study of water resources in the region to determine the sustainable yield of the aquifer(s) in the area and to determine any potential interference issues with both natural resources (e.g. trout streams) and sources of contamination (e.g. the 3M landfill site and associated contamination plumes). This effort has been ongoing for approximately one year, with meetings held roughly every 1 -2 months. Shallow Disposal Wells No shallow disposal well sites have been identified within the DWSMA since the completion of the Wellhead Protection Plan. The City's webpage for the Wellhead Protection Plan identifies how residents can determine if they have a shallow disposal well on their property. Links and contact information are provided so residents can learn more about shallow disposal wells and what they need to do in order to be compliant with EPA regulations. D. Using monitoring data that are required by existing laws and rules in effect at the time of plan adoption. (List data used and summarize conclusions made from data.) Ongoing monitoring of Cottage Grove's municipal wells takes place to meet State and Federal drinking water requirements. Results of the monitoring efforts are presented annually in the Consumer Confidence Report. The latest report can be view here: http: / /www.cottage- grove.org /does /pub works /2010 water quality report.pdf Cottage Grove has also cooperated with the MDH's efforts to study the extent and concentration of the PFC plume discovered in Southern Washington County. Results of the MDH sampling are shown on the MDH website. List any new data that relates to wellhead protection delineations or source management (i.e., groundwater study results, water quality monitoring data, well construction logs, etc.) that may be used during the next update of the wellhead protection plan: Nature of Data Source of Data Geologic well log New City Well No. I I (and associated test well) PFC Contamination Plume Data MDH Sampling DWSMA Well Survey Results City survey of suspected well owners General water quality results and trends Ongoing sampling of City wells Sustaivability forecast for area aquifers (not yet available) South Washington County Water Supply Work Group A. Estimate the annual expense of plan implementation for each plan year including staff time and actual dollar amount spent. Year Annual Expense Year Annual Expense 1 $ 6 $ 2 $ 7 $ 3 $ 8 $ 4 $ 9 $ 5 $ 10 $ Exact dollar amounts spent on wellhead protection activities haven't been accurately tracked to date, since some of these tasks take part of staff members day -to -day activities. More accurate tracking of wellhead protection costs will be attempted in coming years to better budget the dollars needed to effectively maintain plan implementation. B. Estimate full -time equivalency (FTE) spent on wellhead protection implementation in terms of percentage of FTE. FTE = 11 % Exact hours spent by City staff on wellhead protection implementation and related groundwater protection (and drinking water quality) issues is not know. What follows is a rough estimate of the hours spent by Engineering /Public Works staff on wellhead protection and associated groundwater issues: Jennifer Levitt (City Engineer): 120 hours /year Harry Taylor (Public Works Supervisor): 40 hours /year Les Burshten (Public Works Director): 30 hours /year Rick Alt (Utility Foreman): 40 hours /year C. Has the wellhead protection budget been adequate to conduct wellhead protection implementation activities during the last evaluation period? ❑ Yes ® No If no, where could it improve? With tight budgeting constraints, the MDH implementation grants and competitive grants have provided a welcome source of funding to help complete some of the action items established in the Wellhead Protection Plan. D. Itemize difficulties incurred during your plan implementation. 1. Lack of available staffing time to complete tasks to original deadlines. 2. Tight budgeting reduces the amount of available money for plan implementation. 3. The detection of widespread PFC contamination in Washington County occurred following the completion of Cottage Grove's Part 2 Wellhead Protection Plan. As a result, much of the available staff time that would have normally been devoted to implementing the Wellhead Protection Plan was needed to address the PFC contamination issue.