By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
On Tuesday night, the City Council heard a project update from city staff about the proposed Water Treatment Plant. The project is being proposed because Northfield has more manganese in the water for infants and pregnant mothers than the Minnesota Health Department recommends. The proposed project would be a Reverse Osmosis system which would not only remove manganese but also remove PFAS/Forever chemicals and other unknown future contaminants. City staff stated that this helps “future-proof” the city of any regulations from the state government or federal government. The other main benefit of the project would be softening the water for the entire city, which is better for people’s skin and hair and better for pipes and appliances. City Administrator Ben Martig noted that a city water treatment plant can soften water more efficiently than in-home water softeners.
“The softened portion of the treatment plant cost the city about $8 per month. Which equals about one bag of softener salt per month, which is typically used by residents. So again that puts it a little bit in perspective as far as. The softening side of it, the the benefits of it doing collectively versus individually, it’s just more cost effective.” – City Administrator Ben Martig on the KYMN Morning Show
There is also a benefit for the environment, as less chlorine is discharged into the Cannon River. With the new water treatment plant, residents will no longer need water softeners in their homes.
The city was working with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. House Representative Angie Craig to get approximately $29 million dollars from the federal government, but the funding ultimately fell through. However, the city did receive $3.9 million in funding from the Army Corp of Engineers and is working to apply for low-interest loans. The water treatment plant will be funded through residents’ utility bills and not the city’s general fund or tax levy. The city would plan to raise water bills by 28% each year from now until 2028 and the council has already approved next year’s increase. Using city data, the average bill currently is $20 by 2028, the average water bill would be $54. Martig said that Northfield is unique in that we do not have a water treatment plant and that city water has been much cheaper than other cities:
“We’ve been really having dirt cheap water for a really long time. And when you look at our peer cities that are in this, which is pretty typical, we’re a typical. And cities are sized for not having a treatment plant. We’re going to be right in the mix of comparable cities on what they’re paying. It’s going to mean we’re all going to be paying more more for our drinking water going from over the next five years and then it. Kind of peaks.”
After the water treatment plant, the cost of water in Northfield would be about average compared to other cities.
The city will host a public information meeting about the project at the end of the month. The final project approval is scheduled for November and the contract bids will be approved in January 2025.
Full Presentation from 10/8/2024 City Council Meeting:
