Your Drinking Water Is Certified Safe
The City of Edina’s goal is to provide you with high-quality, safe, reliable drinking water that surpasses state and federal requirements. Test results from monitoring done in 2010 show that the City is achieving that goal.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health have identified many chemicals and other substances that might pose a risk to humans. When a contaminant is thought to pose a risk, these agencies set upper limits for safe human consumption.
This special report contains the City’s annual water quality report, which includes complete information on the monitoring done on Edina drinking water last year. Residents in Edina’s Morningside Neighborhood who receive their water from the City of Minneapolis will find information detailing the quality of Minneapolis water on Pages 10-12.
Please review the report. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact the Edina Public Works Department, 952-826-0312.
Water Tower Gets Fresh Paint
Since the early weeks of summer, one of Edina’s landmarks has been undergoing a little cosmetic surgery. The water tower on Gleason Road is getting a fresh coat of paint.
Water towers, or “elevated water storage facilities” as they are known in the world of public works, need to be repainted every 20 to 25 years. The last year the tower on Gleason Road was painted was 1989. The last water tower in the City that was repainted was at Van Valkenburg Park in 2006.
Painting doesn’t just keep the towers looking nice, but also keeps them in good condition. In the winter, ice and snow can build up on the top of the tower. When it slides off the sides, the ice can scrape and scratch the paint, exposing metal. Fresh paint keeps the metal from rusting.
According to Assistant Public Works Director Roger Glanzer, the process of painting takes about 12 weeks. Before the painting process could begin, the tower was drained May 10. Residents saw no change in water pressure or supply. As the tank was drained, workers inspected the interior walls from inside a rubber raft.
The first thing most people noticed is what looks like a shower curtain surrounding the water tower. The curtain was raised around the water tower in late May. This curtain keeps dust and debris from getting out when sandblasting removes the old paint.
Once the sandblasting of both the inside and outside of the tower is completed, painting begins. First, a primer coat of paint is applied. Then, an intermediate layer is painted. Finally, sealant is applied. Inside the tank, a special final layer is painted. This layer is an epoxy urethane paint which is used for water contact.
After the paint has dried, it is filled back up with water and the City’s logo is painted on the side. When complete, the Gleason water tower will look almost identical to the Van Valkenburg and Southdale towers.
The project is expected to be completed in mid-July, costing about $500,000 to paint the 1 million gallon tower from the ground up, inside and out.
Follow City’s Guidelines For Lawn-Watering
To ensure an adequate water supply, the City of Edina has an odd-even sprinkling policy. Homes with even-numbered addresses may water their lawns before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on evennumbered dates of the week. Homes with odd-numbered addresses may water before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on oddnumbered dates. So, the family living at 6130 Arctic Way could water their lawn on even-numbered dates – July 2, 4, 6 and so on.
To ensure adequate water supply and promote water conservation, the City has a daytime irrigation ban. Watering is banned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, reducing water wasted through evaporation and allowing pumps to refill water storage facilities for evening peak use.
Permits are available to allow proper watering of new sod or seeded areas. Daily watering of new sod and seed is recommended for the first 14 days to establish root growth. After two weeks, normal watering should be sufficient for establishing a new lawn. The planting of new sod or seed during very dry times of the year is discouraged.
Surcharges for violating the irrigation ban are determined based on the number of water restriction violations issued to the property owner in a three-year period. A written warning will be issued for a first offense. Second offense is $50; third offense, $100; fourth, $200; and each additional offense, $300.
Residents who live in Edina’s Morningside Neighborhood and receive their water from the City of Minneapolis or those with private wells are not affected. Morningside Neighborhood residents must adhere to any restrictions issued by Minneapolis.
Utility Coordinator David Goergen reminds property owners that some automatic sprinkler systems must be reset at the end of months that have 31 days because there are two odd-numbered dates in a row.
Goergen also points out that rain sensors can be purchased for automatic sprinkler systems. A rain sensor is a device that shuts off a sprinkler system if rain is detected. Quickly repairing or disabling broken water heads can also minimize utility bills.
Goergen also offers the following tips for effective watering:
- Do your lawn sprinkling early in the morning, between 4 and 6 a.m., when water demand is low. After about 10 a.m., both heat and evaporation go up, robbing the lawn of moisture.
- Water your lawn when it needs it, rather than on a set schedule. One sign that a lawn needs water is when it lacks enough moisture to spring back after you walk on it. If it stays flat, it is time to water.
- Adjust lawn watering to the weather. Following a heavy rain, skip your regular watering day until the grass needs it again.
- Check sprinkler heads periodically to make sure they haven’t shifted direction to spray water on the side of a building, parking lot or sidewalk instead of the lawn.
Because the City is not using one of its seasonal wells this year, further water restrictions might be put into place if the weather becomes exceptionally dry for an extended period of time. Further restrictions could include an all-out watering ban.
For more information, contact Goergen, 952-826-0312.
Two New Employees Help Make City Systems Run Smoothly
Whether it be working on preventative maintenance projects or responding to an emergency, two of the Edina Public Works Department’s newest hires are ready to keep your utilities running smoothly.
Danny Heinzmann and Travis Iverson began work for the City as Utility Operators in February. However, neither are new to public service. Iverson worked seasonally in Golden Valley’s Utility Department, while Heinzmann worked seasonally for the City of Edina’s Public Works Department.
“Travis brought a lot of experience and techniques in sewer cleaning. We were already familiar with the knowledge of the City and broad work experience Danny has,” said Utility Coordinator Dave Goergen. “They have been a good fit with the crew. They have good personalities and know when to work and when to have a good time.”
Heinzmann and Iverson were hired to fill two open positions in the department. Their job description is the same, but assignments are doled out to best fit each person’s strengths.
The work day starts the same way for Iverson and Heinzmann. However, that’s about where the consistency ends. Every morning, public works employees attend a “morning muster” led by Public Works Team Leader Gary Wells. During this daily meeting, the day’s assignments are given to the 11 Utility Operators. The assignments can be anything from preventative measures to locating water lines underground, cleaning sewer lines or fixing a water main break.
Even though their titles are the same, their job duties often differ. Iverson mostly works on preventative maintenance and the occasional emergency repair such as a sewer backup or water main break. Heinzmann tends to work on “jetting” and taking care of the City’s sewers and storm drains.
Heinzmann said a lot of skills and critical thinking are needed for his job. “We are always learning. Every situation can be different, so we never know exactly what we’ll be doing,” he said.
Iverson echoed those comments. “One of the best things about the job is the variety of things to do,” he said. “There’s more to this job than meets the eye.”
The City of Edina’s utility division of Public Works employs 14 people. To learn more about the City of Edina’s Public Works Department, call 952-826-0376 or visit www.CityofEdina.com/PublicWorks.
A Tidy Yard Can Help Water Quality
“Not in my backyard!” The phrase has long been a rallying cry for communities concerned about factories, mines and other polluters that impair local water quality.
Many people are unaware, however, that a large part of the water pollution problem can be traced right back to their own backyards. Surface runoff, often called stormwater runoff, carries untreated sediments and toxins off lawns, gardens and driveways directly into local watersheds.
Yard waste that sits around can easily wash into storm drains when it rains. Even if the waste doesn’t contain chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides, the introduction of large quantities of sticks, leaves and grass clippings can overwhelm waterways with unhealthy quantities of nutrients. Remember, even beneficial and necessary substances can be harmful if there’s too much of them, and waterways can’t handle the sudden inflow of mass quantities of organic matter washed down storm drains. It’s almost impossible to eliminate this type of pollution, but there are some ways to help minimize it.
- Contain composted yard wastes. Your compost should be contained in a bin or barrel to prevent the materials from being washed away.
- Use a mulching mower instead of bagging grass clippings. Mulching mowers add a natural layer of compost to your lawn, and you don’t have to deal with disposal of grass clippings. \
- Dispose of yard and grass clippings properly. If you don’t compost or have yard wastes that you can’t compost, contact your local waste management or environmental protection agency to determine how to dispose of yard wastes. Bag or otherwise contain the material while you’re waiting for pickup.
- Contain disturbed soil. If you’re revamping your landscape or tearing out old sod, you can end up with big piles of dirt and organic matter. These are highly susceptible to being washed away in runoff and should therefore be covered or otherwise contained, even if they will only be there for a short time.
- Pick up litter and properly dispose of trash. Litter isn’t just unsightly; it can also contribute to water pollution. Just about every material – from paper to cigarette butts to aluminum cans and old appliances – contains chemicals that can leach out into the environment. Everybody knows that littering is a no-no, but it’s important to understand that trash or junk sitting in your yard can be just as harmful as trash illegally dumped by the side of the road.
- Clean up pet waste. Pet waste contains harmful bacteria and other pollutants. While a good rain storm may wash your dog or cat’s poop away, it isn’t really gone – it’s in the water supply. Promptly pick up after your pet, and seal the waste in a plastic bag before throwing it in the trash.
