EC 2017 11 08
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting @ Water Treatment Plant East
November 8, 2017
Members Present: Charlotte Chappell, Bill Chappell, Don Vasatka, Wayne Benbow, Keith Butcher, Rachel
Popken, David Hess
Members Absent:
Staff Present: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist; Craig Carlson, Water Treatment Plant Operator
Minutes: October minutes were approved.
Site Tour – East Water Treatment Plant: Craig introduced himself and gave a history and overview of the
water treatment plant. The plant was built in 2005 and became operational in 2006. It serves the ‘low zone’ of
Chanhassen. The West Water Treatment Plant off of Galpin Blvd. will be serving the ‘high zone’ of Chanhassen
when it begins operation in 2018. The plant serves to remove iron and manganese from well water as well as add
fluoride and organophosphate before distribution. The raw water is oxidized to promote mineral removal. The
excess minerals are collected during the backwash of the filtering system. Water used during backwash had
previously been put directly into the sewer system, but because it is still useable drinking water it is now
reclaimed. The filter system is cleaned by a backwash process for every million and a half gallons produced. The
plant produces about a million and a half gallons per day in the winter. In peak summer months, production is 8
times higher. Raw water is fed to the plant from 5 wells – 4 off site and 1 onsite. During the winter, only a few
wells are needed for the supply. In the summer, all wells are used. The city has three water storage towers which
assist with supply and pressure. They’re located near Hwy 5 and 41, Lake Lucy Rd and Powers and near
Minnetonka MS West. The city does daily water testing to confirm that the water produced is meeting the Dept.
of Health requirements. The city water consistently tests within the limits. Once the West plant is operational,
then all properties connected to the city water supply will be receiving treated water.
GreenStep Cities memo review: Charlotte introduced the background and reasoning for the GSC memo
explaining how it fit into the Key Financial Strategies. She had written a draft memo which Jill had edited and
given to other city staff to review in the next couple of weeks. The commission reviewed the memo with some
changes. Jill will make the changes and send it back to the commission for further review. She will also provide
the commission with a timeline for final draft and submission.
Fall service project review: Keith and his family volunteered for the project. He said there were about 10
volunteers total, they being half of them. The group collected 88 bags of leaves from Lotus Trail in the Carver
Beach neighborhood. The group also had flyers available for interested neighbors and Keith took some home
which he then distributed in his neighborhood. The commission expressed interest in getting a copy of the
handout.
General Discussion:
The commission decided to do their ‘holiday’ meal in January.
Jill informed the commission that the yard waste drop off at the Environmental Center is looking into a
move to a stand alone facility in Victoria.
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Next month it will be time to develop the 2018 work plan. Jill will send the 2017 plan out for review
prior to the meeting.
Jill will send out past Holiday waste article to the commission to see if anyone would like to update one
for submission to the paper this year.
Don will write up questions regarding the GreenStep Cities presentation at next month’s meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm
Minutes prepared by Jill Sinclair
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