C. Minnetonka Middle School Well Project Update
CITY OF
CBANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227.1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.227.1190
Engineering
Phone: 952.227.1160
Fax: 952.227.1170
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
Fax: 952.227.1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952.227.1120
Fax: 952.227.1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
1591 Park Road
Phone: 952.227.1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952.227.1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Web Site
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Todd Gerhardt, CiJy Manager
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Paul Oehme P.E., Dir. of Public Works/City Engineer
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March 24,2008 !
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FROM:
DATE:
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Minnetonka Middl~ School Well Project No. 08-08:
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Update
SUBJ:
BACKGROUND.
On February 25,2008, staff updated the Council on the progress for upgrading the.
well on the Minnetonka West School property to a municipal production well.
On March 14,2008, staff met with the Minnetonka School District representative to
continue to discuss the potential for improvements to the school well.
On March 18,2008, staff held a neighborhood meeting.
DISCUSSION
Wells 12 and 13 Update
As you are aware, the City lost the use of two water supply
irrigation pumping last summer. Currently,theCityi~.int
new wells, Wells 12 and 13, to replace the 10stwellp~()ul.1
started and is anticipated to be completed in6 t09\yee!<'s;
improvements scheduled to start the week of March.17,2()O
between 3 to 5 weeks to complete dependingonwM~l1~r
Minnetonka West Middle School Well Background
Staff has been working on the possibility ofconvertingthe<J;it
Middle School well into a municipal well. Theschoolwellinl>/ ent is proposed
to.add additional capacity to the system needed tomeetdeman~in the short term
from new developments coming on line such as the ChanhasseIll1igh School. The
school well was drilled in 1963 before the current welFcoue wasirrfol'
turned over to the City in the 1970's after the school hooked up to City he
pump and motor currently in the well can only pump250 gallons per minute (gpm)
and does not have the required chemical treatments available to pump into the
distribution system. The City test pumped the well last fall to determine if it could
yield more than the current 250.JgpJ.119~pacity. Alsoi;in conjunction with the test
pumping, Barr Engineering completed a groundwater model of the west well field to
identify any well field interference issues. Based upon this information, it was
The City of Chanhassen . A growing community with clean lakes, quality schools, a charming downtown, thriving businesses, winding trails, and beautiful parks. A great place to live, work, and play.
Todd Gerhardt
Minnetonka Middle School Well Project Update
March 24, 2008
Page 2
determined the well could yield between 700-800 gpm with no interference issues.
The aquifer into which the well is constructed could yield more, however, there is a
6" casing at the bottom of well which limits the yield of this well. The City discussed
the possibility of making improvements to the school well with the School District
last fall. The City also received a preliminary evaluation of the well from a well
contractor last fall regarding redeveloping the well.
Staff met with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and explained the City's
water needs to them and asked permission to make modifications to the school well
and use it as a regular well during peak demand days. On February 4, 2008, the
MDH commented on staff's request. Unfortunately, the well was not constructed to
current well code requirements and it would be very difficult and expensive to have
this well fixed to comply with current well code. However, the MDH did say it
tentatively would give the City permission to use the well for backup or peaking
under certain conditions.
The tentative conditions set forth by the MDH on the use the well are as follows:
1. A complete water quality analysis test must be completed and water quality results
must meet the Safe Drinking Water Act.
2. The well must be located at least 50 feet from potential sources of contamination
as specified in Minnesota Rules Chapter 4725. A well site survey by a representative
of the Minnesota Department of Health must be conducted.
3. The well owner must obtain an appropriations permit from the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources.
4. A preliminary wellhead delineation worksheet must be completed for this well and
submitted to the MDH for review.
5. The well owner must provide written documentation that they own or legally
control all land within 50 feet of the well. The City would need to obtain an easement
from the School District for this requirement. The easement would have a sunset
clause.
6. A copy of the downhole camera videotape must be provided to the MDH for
reVIew.
7. After December 31,2009, the well will not be allowed to be used as a community
water supply well to meet average day demands. If the City would like to keep the
well as an "emergency back-up" well, then the MDH will allow this designation until
the year 2012. By December 31,2012, the well should be sealed in accordance with
Minnesota Rules Chapter 4725.
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Todd Gerhardt
Minnetonka Middle School Well Project Update
March 24, 2008
Page 3
8. The MDH may revoke the approval to use this well if the well is found to be
vulnerable to contamination during the time period specified, or if the property
ownership or legal easement changes.
If the school well would have improvements made a new well should be planned for
in the near future to replace the school well. The new well would be able to utilize a
majority of the infrastructure installed to connect the school well to the distribution
system. The proposed plan is to connect the school well to the City's system by
direct boring a raw watermain from the school well to Well No. 7 located at the
comer of Lake Lucy Road and Lake Harrison Circle. The raw watermain would be
placed on the site where a new well could be drilled in the future. The water from the
school well will receive chemical treatment at Wellhouse No.7 and then be directed
down to the low zone system via an existing raw watermain pipe intended for future
use as a water supply main for the proposed west water treatment plant. The project
would also include manual valving improvements which would allow the treated
water to be directed into the high zone if the need arises. The electrical system
serving the school well and most of the raw water piping would be sized so that it
could be used by the anticipated future replacement well and so would not be lost
once the school well is abandoned and sealed.
Minnetonka West Middle School Well Update
Since the last time staff gave Council an update on this school well, several items
have been worked on.
. ,Staff met with the Minnetonka School District on March 14,2008 to discuss
the well. The School District stated they are willing to work with the City on
the school well and future new well improvements. Their main concern is
granting a 50' easement around the well until 2012. The School District is
planning to expand the kitchen and lunch room facilities in 2011 and would
like the easement around the well to expire by 2011 if the lunch room project
moves forward. The school did not think it would be an issue to construct a
permanent well south of the school properly and have access through the
school property. Approximately.l acre of land would need to be acquired
from the school district and a right-of-entry would need to be approved by the
School District. The School District did not think the acquisition or granting a
right-of-entry would be an issue.
. A complete water quality analysis test for the school well will be completed
by the Minnesota Department of Health at no cost to the City. This work
should be completed in the next few weeks. The test well analysis is for
VOC's, radionuclides, radon, TOC, nitrate and coliform bacteria.
. A neighborhood meeting was held on March 18,2008 to discuss the proposed
improvements. Two residents from the area attended the meeting. The
property owners' concerns about the project included tree loss due to the
G:\ENGIPUBLIC\_2008 Projects\08-08 School Well No. 14\bkgd 032408 Council worksessioll.doc
T odd Gerhardt
Minnetonka Middle School Well Project Update
March 24, 2008
Page 4
directionally bored watermain, construction noise, project length and
construction working hours. Tree loss will be minimal because staff is
proposing to directionally drill the raw watermain. However, the area around
the future new well head will have to be cleared to construct the well but the
area will be replanted. Working hours will be limited to City's approved
hours which are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Staff is not anticipating work to take
place on Saturdays. The project should take about 3 weeks to substantially
complete, depending on the weather.
. Staff has also looked into additional cost saving for the school well
improvements. A new pitless adaptor, which is the connection point from the
well to the raw watermain, will need to be installed however the adaptor
would be able to be salvaged and reused on the new well. This would save
approximately $10,000 on the project. Also, staff has looked at resale value
of the pump and motor for the school well. Staff estimates that the City
should be able to recoup 50% of the cost for the pump and motor at resale.
The cost the City would not recoup for the equipment is estimated at $9,000.
The only infrastructure that would not be reused by a new well is
approximately 300' of 8" raw watermain pipe, and the electrical conduit pipe
that would run from the electrical vault to the school well. Staff is now
estimating the cost the City would not be able to recoup for the school well
improvements is $45,000. If inflationary costs are calculated in with the
infrastructure constructed this year versus if the improvements were to be
constructed in 2011, the funds unable to be recouped are negligible.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff feels at this time the City can comply with the MDH requirements. The main
issue is the request to cap the well by the end of 2011 by the School District. The
school well would be used as a peaking well during high demand periods in the
summer and would function primarily as a backup well throughout the remainder of
the year.
With respect to the requirements, staff feels the necessary improvements are cost
effective even with the conditions set forth by the MDH and the School District, since
the necessary improvements would be planned in such a way to allow for a future
well to be drilled nearby replacing the school well. The improvements would give
the City's water system added capacity, additional backup capacity in the event a well
is lost and added redundancy to the system.
Attachments: CIF Page
Drawings
c: Brian LeMon, Barr Engineering
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Capital Improvement Program
City of Chimhassen, MN
2008 thru 2012
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Contact
Project #
W-045
Department Water System hnprovements
Type Unassigned
Useful Life
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Project Name West Junior High School Well
Account # 1
Account # 3
Category Utilities
P.'iority nJa
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Account #2
Total Project Cost $715,000
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Description I
This improvement will convert the school well from a stand by well into a regular producing municipal well. Currently, the well can only produce
250 gpm. It is anticipated the well could produce as much as 800 gpm. The project consists of a new submersible pump and using some electrical
components from well #5 that are anticipated to be decommissioned. A new water main is necessary to be extended to well #7 well house for
chemical treatment. Valve improvements are also anticipated to have the ability to bleed this water out of the high zone pressure area.
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Justification
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To meet the current water demand of the city.
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Expenditures
Construction
2008
715,000
715,000
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total
715,000
715,000
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Total
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Funding Sources
Water Utility Fund
2008
715,000
715,000
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total
715,000
715,000
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Total
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Operational Impact/Other
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132
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25 0
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Feet
25 50
75
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BARR
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Figure 1
School Well Site
City of Chanhassen
Chanhassen, MN