Big Lake

Your municipal water is sourced from groundwater supplies through six wells ranging from 178 to 230 feet deep. These wells draw water from the Mt. Simon, Mt. Simon-Hinckley, Mt. Simon-Red Classics, and Mt. Simon-Fond du Lac aquifers.

Big Lake works diligently to provide safe, reliable municipal water that meets federal and state quality standards. For questions about Big Lake's water supply, contact Mike Goebel, Public Works Director, at 763-251-8010 or mgoebel@biglakemn.org. We welcome your participation in decisions affecting water quality.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency establishes safe municipal water standards by limiting specific contaminant amounts, ensuring tap water safety. Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates bottled water contaminants. All water sources, including bottled water, may contain small amounts of some contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. Big Lake's monitoring results cover January 1 to December 31, 2017. We collaborate with the Minnesota Department of Health to test for over 100 contaminants. Finding small contaminant amounts is normal, as no water supply is completely contaminant-free.

Fluoride Information: Fluoride naturally occurs in many water sources and helps prevent cavities. Scientific evidence confirms that fluoridation reduces tooth decay even when other fluoride sources are available. Municipal water systems adjust fluoride levels to 0.5-1.5 parts per million (ppm), with an optimal range of 0.7-1.2 ppm for dental health. Fluoride levels below 2.0 ppm aren't expected to increase tooth fluorosis risk.

Arts in the Parks programs will take place in Spring 2019 during evenings on Wednesday or Friday, or during daytime hours on Saturday or Sunday.

As a community member, you'll be encouraged to share surveys with neighbors, promote the event, and foster local participation. There will be at least one in-person community meeting to discuss activities and gather feedback, plus a survey distributed to park-area residents.

These events are designed primarily for local community members who consider this their neighborhood park. While friends and family are welcome, and the events are free and public, they aren't meant to be advertised citywide due to limited park capacity.

Attendees are encouraged to walk or bike to events since neighborhood parks typically have minimal parking. Community members can share events on local social media like neighborhood Facebook pages and Nextdoor (city-wide pages won't be used for promotion).

The City of Tempe will create all promotional materials including:

• Postcards mailed to community residents
• Banners and yard signs placed in the park before events

While Arts in the Parks events are created with and for your community, they remain City of Tempe events. Residents near selected parks can provide input on preferred art forms and programming for their event.

These are official city events to ensure proper insurance coverage and safety management. The city provides all vendors, equipment, and necessary items, making it easier for communities to enjoy arts programming without assuming financial and liability risks.

No changes to activities, vendors or setup can be made after planning is finalized. Community input is gathered through surveys and public meetings during the planning phase.

Alcohol is not permitted at any Arts in the Parks events, and attendees may not bring their own.