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Council member flags roughly 10% water-system loss — about 30 million gallons a year, urges owner-fix policy
Summary
Council Member Chesa told the Brainerd City council the public utilities department estimates roughly 10% of treated water is lost to leakage and flushing — about 30,000,000 gallons annually — and urged the council to adopt a policy requiring property owners to repair pre‑meter leaks; the council discussed delaying a staff recommendation until December.
Council Member Chesa told the Brainerd City council that the city is losing roughly 10% of its treated water to leakage and flushing and quantified the loss as approximately 30,000,000 gallons per year. "Essentially, 10% of our water is through leakage and flushing and that type of thing," Chesa said.
Chesa asked the council to consider a clearer policy requiring property owners to repair leaks between the curb stop and the house (pre‑meter), saying the utilities department can detect those leaks and wants a mechanism to compel repairs. He said staff raised the issue at a recent Public Utilities meeting and that the department will discuss options at the Charter Commission on Wednesday.
At the same Public Utilities meeting, Chesa said a representative from Tanner Motors outlined the costs and technical complexity of electric vehicle chargers, emphasizing that Level 3 chargers can be "extremely expensive" to install and operate. "If you're not really sure how that all works and the cost, when you have a Level 3 charger, it can be extremely expensive," Chesa said.
Chesa also asked the council to hold a pending staff recommendation (related to an item involving Mr. Bullock) until December when a key participant will be available; the presiding officer said the council could direct staff to return later if the body agreed. The transcript records Chesa asking the council to "perhaps I make a motion" to delay the recommendation, but no formal motion or vote on that delay appears in the record provided.
Why it matters: Water lost before the meter imposes treatment and delivery costs on the utility and on customers; a policy shift to require owner repairs would shift financial and administrative responsibilities and could require outreach, inspection protocols and a timetable for compliance. The council did not adopt a formal policy in this meeting.
What happens next: Chesa identified staff follow‑ups and suggested the item be brought back in December when the named participant is available; the transcript does not record a formal council vote to postpone.
