4.1. ERMUSR 06-14-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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These types of proactive water conservation methods also become important when the need comes to increase our water use appropriations from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). As you may recall, in September 2006, ERMU submitted to the DNR a Conservation and Emergency Management Plan for Elk River Municipal Utilities Water System. This was an important step in the DNR amending our water use permit increasing our water use appropriations. Attached for reference is the letter from the DNR approving the requested increase in water use appropriations. The bottom line is that imposing water use restrictions on those with private wells will not directly help to mitigate the usage volatility associated with the whole water distribution system. It does communicate a uniform signal to conserve. Imposing the current water use restrictions may not be in line with the thoughts of the City Council. However, it is reasonable to say that the City Council is not as familiar with the specifics to this issue as the Utilities Commission is. The City Council has not had the opportunity to become informed on the specifics of the preservation of this natural resource as the Utilities Commission has. In addition, it may not be received well by the public to be regulated by the government for something they own because it is deemed important for the greater good for the City of Elk River. However, that doesn't mean that it is not the right thing to do. Allowing those with private wells to be exempt from the water use restrictions creates some identification enforcement issues for the water department related to those who are sprinkling with city water. Also, allowing single buildable lots to have a well For sprinkling creates a concern for recording their existence in accordance with our wellhead protection program. The Utilities may need to create an application for these single buildable lots adding a private well for sprinkling so the water department can record those locations for the wellhead protection program. The Water Superintendent has had discussion with the City of Rogers about this concern. The City of Rogers requires a permit for those single buildable lot private wells. There should also be discussion of who and how will they be inspected. The answer falls somewhere between over regulation by the government and unregulated misuse of a natural resource. Currently the Utilities compromises by allowing a residential customer on a single buildable lot to have a private well for sprinkling but they would be required to follow the uniform water use restrictions. If this compromise no longer works, the Commission could consider revising the 2009 resolution such that it does not extend the water use restrictions to those with private wells or does not extend the water use restriction to those outside of the water service area. Or, the Utilities Commission could exempt private wells from the water use restrictions entirely.