Mound officials outline $30M funding gap for water treatment; council asks staff for utility rate study

Good evening, Mayor and council. I'm Brian Simmons, senior city engineer. The purpose is to provide the residents of Mound with safe and affordable drinking water, Brian Simmons told the council, as he opened a lengthy update on the city's response to elevated manganese and other water-quality issues.

The update summarized work that began after notices about manganese were sent in 2021 and the subsequent “do not drink” public-health guidance. Simmons said the city and consultants have concluded the practical solution is a filtration water-treatment plant sited near Evergreen (Sorbo) Park and upgrades to trunk mains so treated water can be distributed across the system.

Why it matters: Mound currently lacks a municipal treatment plant, and residents and businesses continue to receive water with iron and manganese that can cause discoloration, clog plumbing fixtures and, at certain concentrations, lead to health guidance from state and federal authorities. Simmons said removing manganese requires filtration; a plant would also remove oxidized iron, bacteria and other particulates that contribute to the longstanding complaints.

Funding and timeline: Simmons told the council the project cost estimate has increased over time from earlier figures; the current planning-level target is in the area of $42 million, and the city has secured about $10.3 million in state…