Mound outlines $30 million water treatment plan, warns manganese levels remain a health concern

Consulting city engineer Brian Simmons told the Mound City Council on March 10 that testing shows manganese remains in the municipal supply at levels the Minnesota Department of Health treats as a health-based concern. "The manganese still exists, and it's still at a level at which, we believe it to be unsafe for consumption over time," Simmons said during the "state of the water" presentation.

Simmons described a multi-year plan to build a single treatment plant sited at Sorbo Park and complete upstream trunk transmission improvements to deliver treated water across the city. He said design and early trunk-main work have been paid in part by a $10.3 million state appropriation through the Public Facilities Authority and roughly $1.09 million in federal appropriations targeted to treatment equipment, but the city still faces a significant funding shortfall.

"We still have a $29,000,000 funding gap between the monies that we've been given and the end result of the entire solution," Simmons said, noting the city is pursuing additional direct appropriations and low-interest loan eligibility through PFA program options.

Simmons walked council through public-health guidance values cited by the Department of Health (0.3 milligrams per liter cited for infants; about 1 milligram per liter for adults) and described nuisance iron levels that cause discoloration and household damage. He said homeowners who use properly functioning water softeners can reduce manganese exposure in their homes, but that is not a municipal-scale solution.

Council members pressed for timing and cost clarity. Simmons estimated the treatment plant alone would take about 18 to 24 months to build once fully funded, and the mayor calculated that, with prompt approvals, the city could expect plant operation in a best-case scenario around 2028.

Simmons stressed that many recent investments'trunk mains, a new well and service-line work'still improve water quality even if the full plant is delayed. He also said part of the reason for near-term pipe and service upgrades is to enable the eventual centralized plant, which requires larger-diameter transmission mains.

The presentation prompted questions from residents and business owners about construction impacts. Dan Zalmer of Surfside Bar and Grill asked whether two-way traffic could be preserved in front of his business and worried about parking and brown water during hydrant work. Simmons responded that the existing water main runs toward the middle of the roadway, making one-lane phased control necessary in locations, and that temporary water systems and testing will be used to reduce water-quality disruptions.

Simmons also detailed funding-tracking steps: the project sits on the PFA intended-use plan and may be eligible for part-B low-interest loans; the Minnesota Department of Health'related emerging contaminant funding has about $18 million available for multiple projects statewide though not all for Mound. He asked council and residents to continue advocacy to secure the remaining dollars and noted the city has applied for available grants and reimbursements as work has progressed.

Council did not adopt a final financing plan at the meeting; staff said the city's municipal advisor and finance committee are evaluating scenarios including utility-rate adjustments, levies and franchise fees, and will present rate-study results on April 28. Simmons said some preliminary construction and bid items already allow the city to seek reimbursements as appropriated funds are drawn down.

Next steps: staff will continue design and bid work, seek additional appropriations and report back to council with Ehlers on utility-rate and financing projections at the April 28 meeting.