By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Editors Note: The Northfield City Council is set to meet tonight; the main item on the agenda is approving a construction bid for the Water Treatment Plant. The project is one of the most debated issues in the city and one of the most significant projects the city has ever taken on, with an original estimated cost of $55 million. However, after a round of construction bidding, the lowest offer was $61 million. Before tonight’s meeting, we want to provide a full summary of the project and how we got here.
Previous Story (10/10/2024): City Provides More Details About Water Treatment Plant
Previous Stroy (11/04/2024): Minnesota Department of Health Discusses the Effects of Manganese
Previous Stroy (11/14/2024): City Council Approves Water Treatment Plant
The first part of this project started in 2019 and 2020 when the city conducted regular testing on the 5 wells that supply water to the city. During the testing, 4 of the wells tested for more than 100 Micrograms per liter (μg/L) of manganese. Additional testing of homes and businesses around Northfield found similarly high amounts.
Results from the city testing of wells in Northfield. From the 10/29/2024 Townhall Meeting
Manganese is a naturally occurring element; every human needs a small amount in their diet. Usually, manganese is consumed through foods grown in the ground, like vegetables. However, too much manganese can become a problem. The Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines state that infants should only consume 100 Micrograms per liter (μg/L) of manganese and that older children and adults should only consume 300 Micrograms per liter (μg/L).
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, children who drink high levels of manganese for extended times may have problems with memory, attention, and motor skills, and infants may develop learning and behavioral problems.
See more information from MDH here.
The City of Northfield has since sent information to the affected families. Northfield Hospital and Alina Health have contacted families of infants and newborns, providing information about where to drink water.
When asked about proper steps families should take, MDH recommends reviewing the fine print on the label of both your refrigerator and any other water filters (like a Brita filter) to see if they remove manganese, as it is not industry standard that filters do so.
KYMN asked MDH why this was not a legal mandate but only a guideline. The department staff noted that legally, MDH could not require the city to build this plant; however, these guidelines are the strongest recommendation they can make. Furthermore, other cities that use the same aquifer, like St. Peter, have treatment plants similar to those proposed by Northfield.
The city Utilities Manager, Justin Wagner, noted that the city explored multiple different options before settling on the treatment plant, including treating at each of the individual wells:
“We can’t treat each individual well site because we don’t have enough land at all those sites and with having four of the different wells that are right at that level. It would be very difficult to have four separate treatment plants. That would all have to be fairly large in size to be able to provide enough water to all our residents.” – Northfield City Utilities Manager Justin Wagner at the 10/29/2024 Townhall
Furthermore, Wagner stated that drilling new wells would also not solve the issue. The city had three options on how to proceed with the project. The reverse osmosis system was selected as the option.
“And then the third option was the gravity filtration with reverse osmosis. So that will lower the levels of manganese, iron, and hardness, and then any future unknown contaminants and PFAFs, being a big one, would lower the levels of nitrates. In that well, two that we have and really it provides us with the most resilient option going forward and making sure that we can meet any and all future guidance.” – Northfield City Utilities Manager Justin Wagner at the 10/29/2024 Townhall
A list of options the city considered before settling on a Reverse Osmosis system. From the 10/29/2024 Townhall Meeting
Why the new treatment plant would “future proof” the city. From the 10/29/2024 Townhall Meeting
By removing the other chemicals, City staff stated that this helps “future-proof” the city of any regulations from the state government or federal government.
The process of removing these chemicals will also soften all of the water in the city. 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 (10/09/2025)
The project’s cost has been one of the main sticking points. Initial estimates had the project at $60 million, and with $3.9 million in federal funding, the cost was brought down to $56.6 million. To pay for the project, the city is using the water bill to pay for the costs, including an increase of 28% per year from 2024 to 2028 in a Northfield water bill. This would raise the average water bill in Northfield from $20 to $54.
However, the lowest construction bid came in at $61.8 million and additional construction costs have raised the project to $83.2 million, according to a memo from the financial advisory firm to the city Baker Tilly. The city engineers with Bolten & Menk believe that the rounds of bids conducted were competitive and additional construction bidding would not lower the cost (see memo below).
To accommodate the new cost increase, Baker Tilly recommends a rate increase in the water bill of 28% in 2024 and 2025 then an increase of 50% in 2026 and 2027, and a 15% increase in 2028. This would mean the average water bill would be $66 by 2028. (see memo below)
The budget breakdown for the construction of the water treatment plant in the Fall of 2024. From the 10/29/2024 Townhall Meeting
The original water bill increases that were approved in the fall for the initial $55 million project cost. From the 10/29/2024 Townhall Meeting
The construction bids for the project. From the 1/21/2025 City Council Packet
Orginal water bill
The updated proposed water rate based on the new costs of the project. From the 1/21/2025 City Council Packet
The council unanimously approved the project in November. Since November 3 new members have been elected to the council. Tonight, the council is set to approve construction contracts or the next steps for the project.
The public is welcome to attend in person or watch online tonight. To watch online, go to northfieldmn.gov and click the “Agenda & Minutes” button in the middle of the home page. From there, find tonight’s meeting date to watch, as well as a copy of the agenda and other meeting documents. Public comment is welcome during the council’s regular meetings.
The meeting starts tonight at 6pm, in the council chambers of the Northfield City Hall.
Additional Information & Resources:
- Video recording of the Townhall event held in October 2024 (click here)
- Bolten & Menk memo regarding construction bids from January 2025 (click here)
- Baker Tilly memo regarding proposed water rate increases (click here)
- Cities Project page, every update and item from the start of this project are posted on this page (click here)
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