WORKSHOP ITEM Jon Haukaas, Director of Public Works
Title
CITY OF BLAINE WATER SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION WITH THE CITY OF LEXINGTON WATER SYSTEM
Background
To meet the demands of Lexington residents, the City of Blaine provides water to the City of Lexington through a series of sixteen interconnection points. Historically, Lexington has reimbursed Blaine by pumping from their well into the Blaine system over the summer months. This total use versus pumping is not accurately measured and water quality issues with the Lexington well has prevented Lexington from fully balancing the volumes in recent years. Blaine residents have paid a significant investment to improve the City’s water quality in recent years. It is a disservice to Blaine residents to balance use by an outside agency with poor quality raw water. Staff is proposing to no longer accept water from the Lexington well, to separate the two systems, and continue to sell water to the City of Lexington through metered connections.
The City of Blaine has had a series of Joint Powers Agreements with the City of Lexington since 1977 relating to the interconnection of our respective water systems. The partnership originated with the City of Blaine needing a temporary source on the east side of the city until Blaine constructed sufficient infrastructure to serve the area. By 1988 the City of Blaine had sufficient infrastructure to completely serve its residents without need of water from Lexington. Lexington requested to continue a partnership that allowed them to use water from the City of Blaine through the winter months and then pump their well in the summer months to pay back the amount of water used. This was done so that the lesser quality water from the Lexington well could be blended with the cleaner Blaine water before being distributed to the system and residents from both cities. The city of Lexington well has very high levels of manganese and iron. The levels are well beyond that of even Blaine’s worst well. Staff and residents have had concerns about water quality throughout the decades of this agreement.
With the completion of Water Treatment Plant 4 and activation of the Northeast Wellfield, the City of Blaine will be providing filtered water to our system for the next several decades without the need of unfiltered seasonal wells. The only exception would be in the most severe droughts or times when a water treatment plant must be taken out of service for maintenance/repairs.
Staff feels it would be a disservice to Blaine customers if the City were to continue allowing water from a low quality well to be injected into the Blaine system after having invested so much time and resources into improving the quality of water delivery. As a means of protecting Blaine’s water quality, staff feels it is time to end this agreement.
The City Council on April 18, 2018 via Resolution 18-64 approved the first set of wellhouse rehabilitation projects and also the design of a project to separate the two water systems and install metering stations for the interconnection with the City of Lexington. That design is complete and staff is prepared to advertise for bids on the project in early 2021 for spring construction.
The Blaine water system has sufficient capacity to supply the City of Lexington with filtered water for some time into the future. Lexington’s population is a little more than 2,000 people, with the potential to double through redevelopment to a greater mix of multi-family housing. The future growth of Blaine’s system is anticipated to be able to provide that volume of service to Lexington. With the construction of the metering stations, Lexington would essentially become a large industrial level customer of the City of Blaine.
Strategic Plan Relationship
This action relates directly to the City of Blaine Strategic Plan Item No. 6 - Well Maintained Infrastructure and Desired Outcome - Reliable Utility Systems. This separation will enable the city to accurately measure use of our resources. It will also provide a sustainable income stream from a major user.
Public Outreach/Education
Blaine staff has met with the Lexington City Administrator and Lexington staff on multiple occasions to work through all related issues. Additional discussions will be needed to resolve final issues. The impact on Blaine residents will be a consistent improved quality of water. The City of Lexington shall provide the notice to their own residents.
Financial Impact
The project cost for the separation of our systems and installation of metering stations is estimated at $260,000-$330,000. These funds will be budgeted in the Water Capital Improvement Fund. Revenues from the City of Lexington will be from the sale of 60-70 million gallons annually.
Recommendation
It is staff’s recommendation to notify the City of Lexington that Blaine will be terminating the water sharing JPA effective May 1, 2021. The City of Blaine will no longer accept water from the City of Lexington well until such time as they can provide filtration to an acceptable level. Also recommended is that the City of Blaine move forward with its plan to separate our system through a project to construct a series of valve modifications and metering stations.
Attachments
1. 1992 Memo - Lexington need to pump to balance use
2. 1994 Memo - Lexington Water Quality concerns
3. Water Quality data
4. System interconnection map
5. Water Supply and Filter Capacity chart