05/15/2000 CONF MTG - 4686�
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CfTY OF
FRIDLEY
CITY COUNCIL
CONFERENCE MEETING
Map 15, 2000 — 7:00 p.m.
Fridley Muaicipal Center
Conference Room A (Upper Level)
1. Discussion of Public Works Section of the
Council/Commissions Survey Results.
2. Individual Sewage Treatment Systems.
3 . Other Business .
Adjourn.
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�
QT1f OF
FRIDLEY
MEMORANDUM
Memo to: The Mayor and Council /� ,
From: William W. Burns, City Manager� f��
Subject: Discussion of Public Works Survey Items
Date: May 11, 2000
William W. Burns
City Manager
We will be meeting with John Flora, Jon Haukaas and Paul Lawrence on Monday evening at
7:00 p.m. to discuss the Public Works section of the CounciVCommissions Survey.
I would like to suggest the following discussion items:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Question #18:
Question #19:
Question #15:
Question #20:
Question #22:
Question #23:
Automated Meter Reading
Geo Positioning Survey of City Streets
The Fountain
Winter Maintenance of Bikeways/Walkways
Catch Basin Cleaning Equipment
Public Works Office/Locker Room Facility
As we consider each item, I suggest that we use the same procedure as we used for the other
meetings:
• Hear a brief staff presentation.
• Discuss the various issues without necessarily expecting closure.
• Summarize our conclusions at the end of these discussions.
Thank you for your participation.
MEMORANDUM
PLANNING DIVISION
Date: 5/8/00
To: William Bums, City Manager�„�j �
From:Barbara Dacy, Community Development Director
Scott Hickok, Planning Coordinator
Paul Bolin, Planner
RE: Information on Draft Ordinance Change Regarding Individual Sewage Treatment
Systems M-00-42
INTRODUCTION
Staff has examined several options for eliminating the remaining individual sewage
treatment systems which are currently in use in the City. After reviewing several
options, staff has determined that the most feasible option to mandate connection to the
City sewer for these remaining systems is to eliminate Section 207 of the Fridley City
Code and make some additions to Section 402 of the City Code. The purpose of this
memo is to give you some background information prior to an Ordinance revision
moving forward to the Planning Commission.
BACKGROUND
Currently in the City of Fridley there are 7 properties that have been identified as using
individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS), rather than utilizing the City sewer. Six of
these properties are single family homes and one of the properties is commercial.
These homes were built prior to the incorporation of Fridley, in 1949. These homes
were not connected to the sanitary sewer due to the extreme cost of connection for
these properties due to the need for lift stations and distances from sewer lines. The
individual treatment systems serving these properties are of unknown design and age.
The effectiveness of treatment from these systems is in question. Due to the age of
these individual treatment systems it is assumed that they do not meet current State
rules for system design and effectiveness of treatment.
PROPERTIES & LOCATIONS
OWNER ADDRESS EST. COST FOR HOOKUP*
Rhodes Lock & Glass 39 77`h Avenue $5,670
Constance Bundy 6470 Riverview Terr. $8,640
George Bydlon 6454 Riverview Terr. $8,640
Chester Hayes 6000 East River Rd. $7,200
Theodore Klohs 6851 Central Avenue $11,700
Mike Querinet 6069 Woody Lane $6,300
Donald Findell 6850 Siverts Lane $6,300
*Estimated costs include grinder pump, electrical & installation, & directional drilling of
sewer pipe, only.
PROJECT COSTS
The average cost per household will be approximately $7,778 for hookup to the City
Sewer. City engineering staff has estimated these costs based on changes in grade
elevation, the need for "grinde�" pumps, and the necessity to instalt the connecting pipe
with directional drilling. Additional costs include properly removing the existing individual
sewage treatment system and the cost of hiring an ISTS Inspector to identify which
systems pose an immediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare. The cost of
installing a conforming septic system :has been estimated, by licensed ISTS contractors;
to be approximately $10,000.
City staff recently applied for a grant from the National Park Service's Mississippi
National River and Recreation Area program in the amount of $16,000 to help offset the
cost of sewer connection for those properties west of East River Road.
In 1987 the City adopted a policy to fund the connection of residential services to
sanitary sewer for homes that required lift pumps and were constructed prior to the
utilities being made available. The connection policy was put into use at 567 Rice
Creek Terrace (Wade & Diane Savage) in 1992. As part of this process a Sanitary
Sewer Ejection Pump System Installation and Maintenance Agreemenf and a Special
Assessment Payment Agreemenf were executed.
The Council may also direct the installation of a sewer system with the cost initially paid
by the general fund and assessed against the benefited property. The Council, by
resolution, may provide for payment of the assessment in one (1) annual installment
bearing interest at 6% annum.
ISTS HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS
It is a threat to the health of humans, pets, and wildlife to drink or come in contact with
surface or ground water contaminated with wastewater. Inadequate treatment of
wastewater allows bacteria, viruses, and other disease-causing pathogens to enter
groundwater and surFace water. Hepatitis, dysentery, and other diseases may result
from bacteria and viruses in drinking water. Disease causing organisms may make
lakes or streams unsafe for recreation. Flies and mosquitoes are attracted to and
breed in wet areas where wastewater reaches the surface and may also spread
disease.
Inadequate treatment of wastewater can raise the nitrate levels in groundwater. High
concentrations of nitrate in drinking water are a special risk to infants. Nitrate affects
the ability of an infant's blood to carry oxygen, a condition called methemogloinemia.
A septic system that fails to treat sewage can also allow excess nutrients to reach
_ nearby lakes, streams, and the Mississippi River promoting algae and weed growth:
Algal blooms and abundant weeds may make Fridley's lakes, creeks, & Mississippi
unpleasant for swimming and boating, and can affect water quality for fish and wildlife
habitat. As plants die, settle to the bottom, and decompose, they use oxygen that fish
need to survive.
AUTHORITY TO MANDATE SEWER CONNECTION
In 1995, when the City amended its sewer chapter in the Comprehensive Plan, Met
Council required the City to pass an ordinance to mandate annual testing and
inspection of existing sewage treatment systems. Staff recommends that the council go
one step beyond this request and pass an ordinance mandating connection.
The City has both the authority and responsibility to eliminate possible threats to the
overall health, safety, and welfare of iYs residents by requiring these remaining
properties to connect to the City sewer system. The following statutes and rules
provide the authority to accomplish this task.
• State Statutes 412.221, Subd. 31
Subd. 31. Sewer and water connections. The council shall have power by
ordinance to require the owner of any property abutting on or adjacent to any
street in which sewer and water mains have been laid to install a toilet in any
dwelling or commercial establishment upon such property and connect it with the
sewer and water mains and in default thereof to provide for the installation of
such toilet and charging the cost against the property as a special assessment.
• State Rules 4715, Plumbing Code
4715.0310 USE OF PUBLIC SEWER AND WATER SYSTEMS REQUIRED.
If a public sewer is accessible in a street or alley to a building or premises and
the connection is feasible, liquid wastes from any plumbing system in that
building must be discharged into the public sewer unless otherwise prohibited by
this code or a local ordinance.
• Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) Waste Discharqe Rules
These rules specifically state that within 24 months after public sewer service is
made available to a property served by a private system that connection shall be
made to the public sewer in accordance with those rules.
REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING ISTS
If the City were to choose not to require connection to the City Sewer system, the
following rules/policies would need to be met.
• State Rules 7080, MPCA Individual Sewaqe Treatment System
The City is required to adopt this chapter of the state rules which requires the
City to set up an inspection program to enforce all of the State requirements for
ISTS. The City may also adopt local ordinances that are slightly more or less
restrictive than the State rules. Chapter 7080 outlines required performance and
design standards for ISTS.
• Metropolitan Council's Wastewater Treatment and Handling Policv Plan
Requires all individual sewage treatment systems to be inspected at least
biennially by a licensed inspector who is also certified by the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency.
CITY OPTIONS ;
City staff has identified three possibie optians that the CityCouncil can choose to
comply with State rules regarding ISTS.
1. Repeal all of section 207, Installation of Water and Sewer, and incorporate select
portions into section 402, Water and Sewer Administration. Enforce mandatory
connection with existing or slightly modified language.
2. Create an entirely new code section.
3. Leave ordinances as they are and strictly enforce the MN Rules 7080 standards for
Individual Sewage Treatment Systems.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
City Staff recommends that the City Council choose option 1, repealing Section 207 of
the City Code and modifying Section 402. City Planning Staff has worked with Public
Works Staff to develop a draft of the modified Section 402. Any language from Section
207 that was still relevant was incorporated into the new Section 402. Unless
instructed otherwise, staff will proceed to the Planning Commission with the attached
draft at their June 7 meeting. Staff will afso begin meeting with the affected property
owners prior to the June 7`h Planning Commission meeting.
Further, staff has pursued a grant application to reduce the costs of connecting to the
City sewer. The City is expecting to receive notification about the application by June
1, 2000. These funds would be restricted to those properties in the Mississippi National
River and Recreational Area, west of East River Road.
.,
Minnesota's septic systems must protect our health
INF�
Minnesota's septic system� must protect our health
By Ken Olson, University of Minnesota Extension Service
Page 1 of 2
L1YiVERSFTY OF �IN�t'�5t}TA
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Every man, woman, and child creates sewage that can be hazardous to your health if it's not treated
properly. That happened ea�ly in this millennium when thousands of people became very sick and
many died from diseases through exposure to untreated or improperly treated sewage.
In Minnesota today there are over 1.85 million housing units. One-half million, or 27% of the state's
households use an"on-site sewage treatment system," more commonly referred to as a"septic
system", to treat their household wastewater or "sewage".
Not all of them are in rural Minnesota. The most recent census data (1990) shows there are 65,264, or
over 13 percent of the state's septic systems located within the seven-county Twin Cities metro area.
If you consider the larger 13-county Twin Cities metro area, the 111,328 septic systems make up
22.6% of the state's total. The 2000 census will undoubtedly document that the number of systems
has increased dramatically with the movement of many urbanites to suburban and open areas.
According to 1990 census data, 13 counties in Minnesota have over 10,000 septic systems. St. Louis
County leads the state with 33,009 households on septic systems. The next counties, in order, are
Crow Wing (21,151), Ottertail (19,628), Anoka (19,242), Stearns (17,610), Cass (16,411), Itasca
(15,341), Wright (14,837), Washington (13,893), Aitkin (11,278), Becker (10,863), Hennepin
(10,739), and Pine (10,063).
Because of the increased number of people moving to suburban and exurban areas around cities, the
percentage of Minnesota households using septic systems to treat their sewage will likely increase as
a percentage of the total Minnesota housing units in the 2000 census.
Proper treatment of sewage by municipal treatment and on- site septic systems is important to protect
human health and the environment, especially drinking water supplies.
Recently, legislative attention reflecting public concern for these issues has focused attention on
septic systems and sewage treatment. Future articles in this series will discuss the purpose and
function of a septic system, policies, management tips, alternative treatment technologies, and
economics.
NAG 99-2865
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http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/1999/JP1052.htm1 5/3/00
Page 1 of 2 �
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Estimated .Number of Septic Tanks by Community
�/ Interceptor Sewer
Septic Tank Systems
� 1Vone, or no data
0 1-199
� 2Q0 - 599
� 600 - 949 �
_ 1000 - 1999
- 2040 - 4445
Hassan '1
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221 �
ctober 13, 19�
Nluch of trte datais from MCES 1997 Sewer Survey; datafor many ofthe townships
arP frnm thP f-'.niinril'c 1QQi NnitcPhniriF.ctimatPC• a fP�x� rlata nnintc arPfrnm a 1445
http://www.metrocouncil.org/envirorunentlWatershed/septic_sys jpg 5/3/00
The function of a septic system
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The function of a septic system
By Ken Olson, University of Minnesota Extension Service
(Note: This is the second in a series of nine news articles on septic systems)
Page 1 of 2
L1YtVERSITY' OF �+SI�TjtESOTA
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Septic systems safely recy�le water used by human's back into the natural environment. When
properly designed, installed, operated and maintained, septic systems treat wastewater as well as or
better than municipal treatment systems. They are a cost- effective system used in locations where
municipal treatment is impractical. Federal, state and local regulation of on-site systems exist to
ensure proper treatment of sewage for the protection of citizens and the environment.
To understand how a septic system works, it is important to know the components of a septic system.
After all, they are buried out of site! The components are the home's plumbing, the septic tank, and a
soil treatment area usually known as a drainfield or mound. All of the 'dirty' water, solids and
cleaners contained in the wastewater is delivered to the septic tank where light solids float to the top
forming a scum layer and heavy solids sink to the bottom forming sludge. In the tank, millions of
naturally occumng bacteria de-compose organic solids. Non-organic solids must be cleaned out of
the tank by regularly "pumping" the tank through the large manhole.
The septic tank delivers the partially treated liquids (effluent) which still contain pathogens (disease
causing bacteria and virus), nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorous and sodium), and some fine
solids, to the soil treatment area. The soil surrounding the network of pipes in the drainfield or mound
completes the treatment process by allowing naturally occurring aerobic bacteria in the soil to destroy
pathogens and forcing nutrients to come in direct contact with soil particles. Phosphorous and sodium
attach or ' adsorb' to soil particles. A thin layer of fine solids, dead bacteria, and soil bacteria, called a
"biomat", forms naturally where effluent enters the soil. After passing through the unsaturated soil
below the drainfield,. hannless water returns to the soil and groundwater system or evaporates into the
air.
There are many design variations to the soil portion of the system that make proper treatment
possible. The amount of wastewater produced by the home and the soil conditions on the property
determine the type needed. National, �tate and local design standards and codes specify what needs
to be done to accomplish proper treatment.
The process of treating water and removing harmful components in sewage enables the water to be
recycled safely back into the environment. People, animals and plants use water over and over again.
Future articles in this series will address tips on managing septic systems, regulations and policy
issues, economics and alternative treatment technologies.
http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/1999/JP 1053.html 5/3/00