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6.0 Summary and Discussion <br />Elk River Municipal Utilities currently obtains all of their water supply from seven wells completed <br />in the Mt. Simon-Hinckley Aquifer. These wells represent approximately 8.1 million gallons per day <br />of capacity. The Utility provides water to approximately 4,300 metered services in the southern <br />portion of the Elk River municipal boundary. Total annual consumption is about 875 million gallons. <br />At present, the Mt. Simon-Hinckley Aquifer is a reliable water supply that is capable of meeting <br />current demand. Elk River Municipalities recently received an appropriation increase from 875 <br />million gallons per year to 16,000 million gallons per year to cover approximately the next 10 years <br />of projected demand. It is likely that this aquifer will be able to meet increases in demands for at <br />least the next 8 years, although increased demand may require the installation of new wells. Greater <br />confidence in this prognostication could be achieved by additional studies that involved computer <br />modeling of groundwater flow.4 <br />Conditions that may adversely affect the Utilities' ability to lneet future demand with the Mt. Simon- <br />Hinckley Aquifer are: <br />1. Climatic changes that result in extended periods of drought, reducing recharge to the aquifer <br />and placing increased demand on groundwater to meet various water demands. <br />2. Increased pumping in surrounding areas that are not served by the Utilities, including <br />adjacent communities. Increased pumping could result in well-interference effects that reduce <br />the well yield of individual wells or initiate a more regional depletion of storage and <br />associated lowering of groundwater levels. <br />3. Increased urbanization that reduces recharge to the aquifers. Increased urbanization with <br />infiltration basins that collect storm water from impervious areas may actually increase <br />a The Metropolitan Council is working on a regional model of groundwater flow that includes the Elk River <br />area. This model is scheduled to be completed in early 2008. This model could be used as a basis for <br />constructing a more detailed model of the Elk River area for further evaluation. <br />P:\Mpls\23 MN\71\2371105 Water Supply Alternative Study\FinalDeliverables\Alternatives_Report_final.doc 43 <br />