09-23-1997 Council Minutes Navarre Water Plant Public Hearing

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NAVARRE WATER PLANT PUBLIC HEARING • MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 23,1997 ROLL The Orono City Council held a public hearing to consider the improvement of the Navarre Water Treatment Plant on the above mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Councilmembers J. Diann Goetten, Charles Kelley, Barbara Peterson and Richard Flint. Representing Staff were City Administrator Ron Moorse, Public Services Director Greg Gappa, City Engineers Glenn Cook and Tom Roushar, and Recorder Lin Vee. Mayor Jabbour called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Moorse explained the purpose of the hearing is to make the public aware of what the project is and provide an opportunity for public comments so the Council can decide whether or not to move forward with the project. An assessment hearing would be held at a later time if Council votes to continue with the rehabilitation of the Navarre Water Treatment Plant. Jabbour added that there are two parts to consider as improvements - the water softening system and the iron/manganese filtering system. The City must decide whether to rehabilitate the existing water plant or stop using it. Tom Roushar, City Engineer from Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates, gave a presentation • on the proposed rehabilitation project. The Navarre Water Plant was constructed in 1971 of masonry and steel. It is a very basic water treatment system providing for softening and filtering at the least possible cost. Improvements would extend the use of the system for another 20 -25 years. The following issues were discussed: 1. Water quality. The Orono water supply system meets all of the primary drinking standards mandated by the Federal Drinking Water Act. The water does not meet secondary standards which are related to aesthetics, i.e. iron, manganese, hardness. Iron can cause reddish water; manganese may cause the water to appear yellowish to blackish. Iron and manganese also promote the growth of iron bacteria which may result in taste and odor problems. Hardness results in problems with laundry such as less suds, and build -up in piping. 2. Treatment process schematic. Diagrams were shown outlining how the water plant works. Chlorine is added, water is then aerated and flows through a gravity filter which strains out the iron and manganese. Booster pumps pump the water through three softeners and up to the water tower behind the water plant. Fluoride is added on the way out of the softeners. Federal law does not require the addition of fluoride but Minnesota law does. Some additional chlorine is added to keep the water disinfected. 3. Filter schematic. A Dualator I Filter from the Tonka Equipment Company is used to aerate the water and filter out iron and manganese. It is a gravity setup and very economical way is to filter water.