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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
Consent Calendar 5.H.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 09/11/2023
Agenda Item:
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a Source Water Protection Grant for water quality testing
Recommendation/Action(s):
Adoption of the attached resolution.
Summary:
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has published applications for Source Water Protection (SWP) grants. These grants are funded by the Clean Water Fund appropriations approved by the Minnesota legislature and are administered through the Drinking Water Protection Section of MDH. The fundamental goal of MDH’s source water protection plan is to provide long term, sustainable management of drinking water sources. Staff have identified two grants that would assist in the continued monitoring of water used by the City of Mankato.
The City of Mankato is eligible for these grant opportunities since it maintains a current wellhead protection plan and a surface water intake protection plan, both approved by MDH. Specifically, the work being performed falls under surface water intake protection plan. These items’ implementation activities are the continued surface water monitoring in the greater watershed. The monitoring is done for contaminants that may be in the water, such as nitrates, chlorides, phosphates, and suspended solids.
The first grant is a Surface Water Protection Implementation Grant. This grant is a non-matching grant and awards up to $10,000. The deadline for the grant is September 29, 2023. If awarded, staff recommends that use of the funds provided by the grant pay for a factory representative to perform annual maintenance on the Ion Chromatography instrument and the autosampler. These instruments are utilized by the lab to monitor surface water contaminants in the Blue Earth River, the Minnesota River, and the Ranney Collector Wells.
This work includes rebuilding the eluent pumps, rebuilding the 6-port injection valve, and replumbing the internal plumbing of both the instrument and the autosampler. Staff was advised that applications are evaluated on a first come, first served basis and submitted an application to preserve a favorable evaluation position prior to council approval. The application can be rescinded should authorization not be approved.
The second grant is a Surface Water Protection Competitive Grant. This grant is a matching grant and awards up to $10,000. The deadline for the grant is the end of October. If awarded, staff recommends using these funds to pay for costs associated with operating the Ion Chromatography instrument and the autosampler. The operational costs are for the consumables that are used in testing the surface water.
The City of Mankato is eligible for these grant opportunities since it maintains a current wellhead protection plan and a surface water intake protection plan, both approved by MDH. Specifically, the work being performed falls under surface water intake protection plan. These items’ implementation activities are the continued surface water monitoring in the greater watershed. The monitoring is done for contaminants that may be in the water, such as nitrates, chlorides, phosphates, and suspended solids.
The first grant is a Surface Water Protection Implementation Grant. This grant is a non-matching grant and awards up to $10,000. The deadline for the grant is September 29, 2023. If awarded, staff recommends that use of the funds provided by the grant pay for a factory representative to perform annual maintenance on the Ion Chromatography instrument and the autosampler. These instruments are utilized by the lab to monitor surface water contaminants in the Blue Earth River, the Minnesota River, and the Ranney Collector Wells.
This work includes rebuilding the eluent pumps, rebuilding the 6-port injection valve, and replumbing the internal plumbing of both the instrument and the autosampler. Staff was advised that applications are evaluated on a first come, first served basis and submitted an application to preserve a favorable evaluation position prior to council approval. The application can be rescinded should authorization not be approved.
The second grant is a Surface Water Protection Competitive Grant. This grant is a matching grant and awards up to $10,000. The deadline for the grant is the end of October. If awarded, staff recommends using these funds to pay for costs associated with operating the Ion Chromatography instrument and the autosampler. The operational costs are for the consumables that are used in testing the surface water.