Cottage Grove

This survey examines the benefits of monitoring conducted for Cottage Grove municipal water for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2016, and addresses changes made in 2017 to ensure residents have access to safe and reliable water. The report includes testing from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), public health information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and local updates from the Cottage Grove Public Works Department.

Our mission is to enhance community understanding of water quality and promote awareness about protecting our valuable water resources. We are committed to developing and maintaining a dependable water supply for our residents. To ensure safety and quality, we conduct annual testing for all potential contaminants. All tests performed in 2016 confirmed our water meets federal and state standards.

Cottage Grove provides water from groundwater sources, operating eleven wells ranging from 284 to 427 feet deep in 2016. Each well draws from the Jordan aquifer. The Minnesota Department of Health has evaluated the vulnerability of our water source to potential contamination incidents. For the complete source water assessment of your municipal water, please call 651-201-4700 or 1-800-818-9318 during business hours, or visit: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/swp/swa

Our groundwater source allows for a consistent treatment process that produces naturally high-quality water. We add chlorine to control bacteria and fluoride to promote strong teeth. In 2017, we began implementing GAC filters at select well sites.

Water quality measurements for the Jordan Aquifer:

• Hardness: 298 ppm (or 17 grains/gallon)
• Alkalinity: 236 ppm
• pH: 7.6

In 2016, we maintained and cleaned both the one-million-gallon Meadowgrass water tower and the half-million-gallon Pine Mountain water tower without service interruption. GAC filtration stations were installed at Wells #3 and #10 to remove PFCs, allowing these wells to again support the water system. A project to develop a new well (#12) is underway and expected to be operational by mid-2018.

City code prohibits connecting sump pump discharge to the sanitary sewer. In 2016, Cottage Grove distributed a total of 1,139,024,281 gallons (averaging 3.1 million gallons daily), which was 47.8 million gallons less than in 2015. These figures demonstrate that our education and conservation initiatives are having a positive impact. Additionally, all public water fountains were tested for lead in 2016, with 100% meeting safe water standards.

The CDC provides essential information about municipal water safety and health. Here are some common questions about Cottage Grove's water system:

1. How often is Cottage Grove's water tested? Municipal water is tested regularly according to EPA schedules, with certain contaminants tested daily, weekly, monthly, or annually.
2. What causes water hardness in our area? The groundwater in Cottage Grove naturally contains high levels of calcium and magnesium minerals as it passes through underground limestone formations.
3. Is hard water harmful? While hard water isn't a health concern, it can cause household issues like scale buildup in pipes, reduced soap effectiveness, and appliance wear.
4. What are PFCs and why are they a concern? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFCs) are synthetic chemicals that can persist in the environment. Cottage Grove has installed GAC filters specifically to remove these substances.