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Bill Removing City Well Authority Does Not Advance <br />Page 2 of 2 <br />outside of city service areas has dwindled over recent years. They have taken advantage of state <br />requirements for water conservation rates and summer water use restrictions to convince large water <br />users to get free water by sinking their own wells. <br />Where this has occurred, it has led to a serious strain on the financial viability of public water systems. <br />Obviously, if one large water user suddenly stops paying, the capital debt and system operations and <br />maintenance expenses must be paid by the remaining customers. It has also resulted in large increases in <br />water use through those new private wells, which affects future water availability for the public water <br />supply. Other cities have experienced serious public water supply contamination issues when private <br />wells are not properly maintained. <br />Because of the negative impact on utility revenues and the added risk to local water quality and quantity, <br />the League is strongly opposing this legislation. The League supports existing law, which recognizes <br />that it should be a local determination whether private wells are appropriate in any given jurisdiction. <br />Last fall, after ongoing discussions with the League and other concerned parties, the Minnesota <br />Department of Health notified the League that it would no longer tell cities they do not have the legal <br />authority to ban the construction of wells within their jurisdictional authority. This is what prompted <br />well drillers to have this legislation introduced. <br />Read the CUrI'ent ISSUe Of the CltleS BUlletln (Link [o.' http:/hvww.Lnc.nrg/ppge/l%iries-bed[elirrne~rslenerjsp) <br />Your LMC Resource <br />Contact Craig Johnson <br />IGR Representative <br />(651) 281-1259 or (800) 925-1122 <br />CJohn$on~k IInC.Org (/ink m: mai(m:cjnhn,vw~~ulmc.ur~ <br />Copyright 09201 I league of Minnesota Cities, 145 University Ave. W, Saint Paul. MN 55103-20441 Phone: (651) 281-12001 Toll-Free: f800) 925-I 122 <br />http://www.lme.org/page/1/wells.jsp 5/4/201 I <br />