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5.0 Evaluation of Paired Mt. Simon-Hinckley and <br />Drift Wells <br />This section describes in more detailed the concept of installing new wells in the sand and gravel <br />drift aquifer in close proximity to existing or proposed Mt. Simon-Hinckley wells. As previously <br />discussed, this approach could prove to be the most viable alternative to meeting future water needs <br />in Elk River.2 It has the following advantages: <br />1. Sand and gravel is plentiful in the Elk River area. There is a high likelihood that the sand and <br />gravel aquifer will be productive. <br />2. The Eau Claire Formation separates the Mt. Simon-Hinckley aquifer from the overlying sand <br />and gravel deposits. The Eau Claire Formation is generally a very competent separating <br />aquitard with minimal leakage. This allows for very little interference between wells installed <br />in close proximity to one another but in different aquifers. <br />3. Significant savings can be realized in locating wells in pairs. Piping runs are short. A <br />common well house might be possible at a given location. Wellhead treatment, if any, can be <br />shared. Some well controls can be shared. Power infrastructure to the well heads can be <br />shared. Land acquisition costs would likely be reduced. Operation and maintenance activities <br />could be reduced. <br />4. Installing wells in another aquifer improves water-supply reliability in the unlikely event that <br />one aquifer becomes contaminated. <br />5. Iron, manganese, and radium concentrations in drift aquifers are usually lower than in the Mt. <br />Simon-Hinckley aquifer. Opportunities for blending water from the different aquifers could <br />result in treatment savings. In Brooklyn Park, for example, blending drift aquifer water with <br />z Elk River recently received an annual appropriations increase from the DNR for the Mt. Simon-Hinckley <br />Aquifer from 875 million gallons to 1,600 million gallons using five new wells. This increased appropriation is <br />expected to meet demand through the year 2016. It is likely that future appropriations will need to be satisfied <br />from other sources. <br />P:\Mpls\23 MN\71\2371105 Water Supply Alternative Study\FinalDeliverables\Alternatives_Report_final.doc 36 <br />