Waterline

The Waterline is a quarterly newsletter for water operators, city officials, and others interested in news related to public water systems in Minnesota. The Waterline includes updates on training sessions along with a registration form for various operator schools as well as feature stories of interest to those in the drinking-water profession.

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Subscribe to The Waterline newsletter. An e-mail notice is sent out each quarter when a new edition is posted to the web site.

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Current

Summer 2023

• Gunilla Montgomery Dies
• Anoka Water Keeps Up with City's Growth
• New People at MDH
• MDH Kiosk Debuts at Minnesota Rural Water Technical Conference
• Lead and Drinking Water Testing Program for Child Care Programs
• Lead Service Line Inventories Due October 16, 2024

Waterline feature stories

Select a feature story: Complete List of Feature StoriesAnoka Water Keeps Up with City's GrowthAppleton Celebrates New Water Treatment FacilityArsenic Removal Comes to ClimaxAustin Utilities Increases Capacity to Service Major Spam ProducerBelgrade Avoids Arsenic with New Wells and Treatment PlantBemidji Builds Treatment Plant to Remove PFASBiological Filtration Used in New Hutchinson Water PlantBlaine Deals with Water Issues with New PlantsBurnsville Becomes First Metro System with On-Site Hypochlorite GenerationChanhassen Enhances Aesthetics of Water and CommunityClara City Joins the Membrane WaveCloquet Moves Forward with Manganese RemovalCommunity Commitment Results in Innovative Water Plant in St. MartinDewatering Added to Long History of Moorhead Water TreatmentDying for a Drink?Eagan Fills Its PlatesEast Bethel Spurs Development with New Water PlantEden Prairie Grows with Its Water SystemEden Prairie Reservoir and Pumphouse to Replicate and Recognize HistoryEthanol Production Dependent on WaterFairmont Getting New Water Treatment PlantFreeborn and Hartland Collaborate for Shared Water SystemHaiti Outreach Promotes Water IndependenceHastings Removes Nitrate with New PlantHighway 53 Rerouting Includes Impact on Virginia Water SupplyHistoric St. Paul Ballpark Leads to Information on Early Water Supply in CityJoint Powers Water Board Brings Aquifer Storage Technology to MinnesotaKinney Secession: Effective but No Longer NecessaryLa Crescent Plant Knocks Down RadiumLakeville Water Plant Expands with PopulationLewis and Clark Regional Water System Nearly Complete in MinnesotaLincoln-Pipestone Tackles Nitrate with New Reverse-Osmosis PlantLittle Falls Continues Implementation of Wellhead Protection PlanA Look at Bottled WaterA Look at the Other EndA Look at Water TowersMadison Leads the WayMankato Moves Ahead with MembranesMeeting the Need with Rural WaterMetro Transit Helps Saints Save Water in New BallparkMinneapolis Distribution Crews Maintain Critical InfrastructureMinneapolis Ready for UltrafiltrationMinneapolis Theater Focuses on Water in Series of PerformancesMinneapolis Uses Microtunneling for Water Main below the Mississippi RiverMinneapolis Water ReservoirMinnesota Systems Treat for ArsenicMinnesota Landscape Arboretum Combines Beauty and BrainpowerMinnesota Twins Focus on Water Sustainability at Target FieldMinnesota Water Operators Respond to the Floods of 1997Mora Does More with LessNew Brighton Cleans UpNew Brighton Keeps on PumpingNew Brighton Still Facing, Overcoming Water ChallengesNew Burnsville Plant Will Use Excess Quarry WaterNew Water Plant among Upgrades at Sandstone Correctional InstitutionNonmunicipal Water SystemsNotable St. Paul Reservoir Being Demolished and ReplacedOakdale and 3M Work Together to Remove PerfluorochemicalsOwatonna Survives 2010 Flood, Raises Wells to Head Off Future FloodsPipestone Cashes In by Solving Wastewater Problem with Drinking Water TreatmentPlate Settlers Clean Up Ortonville WaterPublic Art St. Paul Promotes Water AwarenessPretty PumphousesThe Purest Water in MinnesotaRed Wing Plants Serve Water across Varying ElevationsRed Wing Residents Learn Job Skills while Maintaining Water SystemRobbinsdale Drinking Water Plant Looks to the FutureRushford Responds to Flash Flood that Submerges City and Knocks Out UtilitiesSabin to Get Demonstration Plant for Arsenic ReductionSt. Louis Park Water Supply Remains Reliable Despite ChallengesSaint Peter Adds Reverse Osmosis as Part of Expansion and UpgradeSchell's Starts with the WaterShoreview Thrives with New Water Treatment PlantSouthern Minnesota Cities Turn to Innovative Methods: New Ulm and LafayetteSustainability Key to Rochester WaterSwede HollowSWAMP Provides Training, Networking Experiences in Unique SettingTackling the Challenges of a RegionTaking on Surface SourcesA Tower Grows in MinnetonkaVirginia Gets an UpgradeWaite Park Uses Air Strippers to Restore “Lots and Lots” of Good WaterWater Supply Around the WorldWater VoyageWild Rink Starts with St. Paul WaterWoodbury Removing PFAS from Drinking Water with Temporary Facility and Moving Forward with Plans for Permanent PlantWorthington Explores Lewis and Clark

Past Issues of the Waterline: Index of Archived Materials

Spring 2023

• New Robbinsdale Water Plant Looks to the Future
• Corey Larson Joins the Minnesota Department of Health
• Casey O'Brien to be Keynote Speaker at Metro District Water Operators School
• Rick Wahlen Honored
• Minnesota AWWA Participates in Future City Competition

Winter 2022-2023

• Water Assistance Available for Eligible Households
• We Are Water Minnesota Still Going Strong
• Woodbury Removing PFAS from Drinking Water with Temporary Facility and Moving Forward with Plans for Permanent Plant
• WUTT Water Treatment Plant Operations Module to Start in January
• Clean Water Act Turns 50; Safe Drinking Water Act Not Far Behind
• Drinking Water Institute Wraps Up 2022
• Mostly Good News about Confidence in Tap Water
• Lead and Copper Revisions for Minnesota Public Water Systems

Fall 2022

• Pipestone Cashes In by Solving Wastewater Problem with Drinking Water Treatment
• MDH Testing for PFAS
• Maria Spitael Joins MDH
• St. Paul Replacing Century-Old Clarifier and Basins
• Extreme Weather Impacts on Public Water Systems
• Safe Drinking Water Act Video Being Updated
• Metro District Water Operators School Changing Locations

Summer 2022

• Bemidji Builds Treatment Plant to Remove PFAS
• MDH Issues Drinking Water Annual Report Covering 2021
• Hunter Blommer Joins MDH; Lih-in Rezania Leaves after Three Decades
• MRWA Apprenticeship Program
• WUTT's Rolling Along
• Water Operator Schools Back and Going Strong

Spring 2022

• Water Towers: New, Old, and Both
• John Kriesel to be Keynote Speaker for 2022 Metro Water Operators School
• Blast from the Past: Waterline Roots
• EPA Finishes Lead and Copper Rule Revision, Plans Improvements
• Threats Highlight Need for Emphasis on Cybersecurity
• Drinking Water Institute Set for Red Wing in August
• Water-Wastewater Utilities Treatment and Technology (WUTT) Program
• Minnesota Water Research Funds Keep Flowing
• Minneapolis and St. Paul Water Treatment Videos

Winter 2021-2022

• John Kriesel to be Keynote Speaker for 2022 Metro Water Operators School
• Pipestone Presented with EPA Aquarius Award
• WUTT Program Update
• David Vaaler, Stephanie Voeller, and Indran Kamalanathan Join Drinking Water Program

Fall 2021

• The Secession of Kinney
• Drinking Water Annual Report Covers Pandemic Responses by Utilities
• Hydration Stations a Hit in Schools
• WUTT Celebrates First Class
• PWS Profiles: Michael Bourland, Erin Culver, Andrew Karp, Samantha Miltz
• Don't Sell Your Water Tower
• Is the Water Colder Closer to the North Pole?
• In-Person Schools Returning
• Deb Swackhamer Dies
• Wastewater Beer?
• Duluth Communicates to Customers on Lead in Water
• Department of Natural Resources Issues Drought Guidance

Summer 2021

• Urban Water Cycle Drinking Water Module Updated
• Florida Utility Dodges a Disaster with Prompt Response
• We Are Water Minnesota Travels to Hmong Plaza in St. Paul
• Alvine Laure Ekame Joins MDH Section of Drinking Water Protection
• WUTT Is Underway
• Lewis and Clark Update
• Last Chance to Remain on Mailing List for Printed Copies of the Waterline

Spring 2021

• Public Art Saint Paul Continues through Pandemic
• Minneapolis Water Magic Project Continues Mission of ReThink Your Drink
• Minnesota AWWA Virtual Water Operators School Set for March 30 to April 7
• Pipestone Receives EPA Aquarius Award
• Drinking Water Needs Survey for 2021
• MDH to Propose Updates to Health Risk Limits Rules

Winter 2020-2021

• Freeport Facelift Completed
• Minneapolis Main Goes from Bridge to Under the River
• MDH Profile: Kate Callais
• Department of Agriculture Develops Videos on Groundwater and Nitrate Movement in Southeast Minnesota
• Source Water Protection Grants Support Community Solutions to Protect Drinking Water
• WUTT's Up Next

Fall 2020

• Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Opt-in to be Required to Remain on Mailing List for Printed Copies of Waterline
• Calm under Pressure in Moorhead
• Pandemic Presentations from U of M Professors
• Future of Minnesota Drinking Water Report Now Available
• WUTT's Coming Up

Summer 2020

• Coping and Continuing with COVID
• An Easy, No-Cost Pandemic Drill for Utilities
• WUTT Is Happening
• Permanent Rules Governing Fluoridation of Municipal Water Supplies Adopted
• Freeport: Have a Nice Day
• Anna Schliep Is New Lead in Drinking Water Coordinator
• CREAT Is Coming
• Lead Service Lines: Where Are They?
• MDH to Reduce Printed Copies of Waterline

Spring 2020

• St. Paul Water Leads the Way in Wild Rink Preparation
• Help Possible for Lead Service Line Replacements
• Metro School to Have Special Day for Superintendents and Supervisors
• Service Connection Fee Increase Takes Effect
• Jessie Kolar and Corey Mathisen Join MDH
• Drawing of Lake Harriet Pump
• Check Out Patty Potty
• Crookston Honored with People's Choice Award
• Water Towers (Spaceship-Looking Things)
• Dog-Sniffing Leak Detector
• EPA Turns 50
• Grants for Bottle-Filling Stations
• MDH to Reduce Printed Copies of Waterline

Winter 2019-2020

• Metro School to Have Special Day for Superintendents
• Surface-Water Optimization Training in Minnesota
• Service Connection Fee to Increase January 1, 2020
• Innovation in Lafayette and New Ulm
• New Brighton Returns to Its Own Water
• Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Project
• EPA Considers Regulating Perchlorate
• Good Ol' Minneapolis Tap Water a Hit at Cedar-Riverside Health Fair
• Water on Tap at the Minnesota State Fair
• Drinking Water Institute Held in Oakdale
• MDH to Reduce Printed Copies of Waterline

Fall 2019

• Governor Walz Proclaims Safe Drinking Water Week in Minnesota
• Service Connection Fee to Increase January 1, 2020
• Cloquet Moves Forward with Manganese Removal
• Minneapolis Launches ReThink Your Drink
• New Addresses for Minnesota Department of Health Water Websit
• STEM Committee Receives AWWA Section Education Award
• Funds for Minnesota Water Research Begin to Flow
• MDH Issues Fact Sheet on Operator Exposure of Radon at Water Treatment Plants
• MDH to Reduce Printed Copies of Waterline

Summer 2019

• Freeborn and Hartland Collaborate for Shared Water System
• MDH Guidance to Operator Exposure to Radon at Water Treatment Plants
• Eden Prairie Reservoir and Pumphouse to Replicate and Recognize History
• Operator Protection and Disposal Guidelines for Spent Media or Backwash Waste Containing Radium
• EPA Develops PFAS Action Plan
• America's Water Infrastructure Act
• Lewis and Clark Complete in Minnesota but Work Is Everlasting

Spring 2019

• Chanhassen Enhances Aesthetics of Water and Community
• Twins Install Self-Irrigating "Living Wall" for Batter's Eye
• Lewis and Clark Completed in Minnesota
• New MDH Engineer: Jenny Soltys
• Surface-Water Optimization Training in Minnesota
• STEM Promoted at Brewery Run
• Chuck Brackin Dies
• Latest Collaboration with Department of Agriculture
• Useful New Videos

Winter 2018-2019

• Sandeep Burman Named MDH Drinking Water Protection Section Manager
• Lewis & Clark Regional Water System Nearly Complete in Minnesota
• Historic St. Paul Ballpark Leads to Information on Early Water Supply in City
• Past Waterlines Archived at wateroperator.org
• Chaska Prevails in Great Minnesota Tap Water Taste Test
• Cool New Videos
• Fact Sheets and Resources on MDH Web Page
• Updated Water Exhibit a Hit at State Fair
• New Site for Southeast District School
• MDH Funds Filling Stations

Fall 2018

• Barb Moore Joins the Minnesota Department of Health
• Lewis and Clark Water On Its Way to Worthington
• Minnesota AWWA Promotes STEM
• Risk Communication Toolkit
• Water Bar at Capitol at Highlight of Safe Drinking Water Week
• Rock County Rural Water District Receives Source Water Protection Award

Summer 2018

• Water in Southeastern Minnesota: Rochester and Austin
• Lewis and Clark Summary
• Summit Brewery Starts with the Water
• We Are Water MN Visits the Capitol
• Invisible Heroes Videos Highlight Drinking Water Providers
• Jim Sadler Retires/Mark Sloan Dies

Spring 2018

• Innovative New Water Plant in St. Martin the Result of Community Commitment
• Golden Valley Survives Contractor Accident without Water Disruption
• Retirements/Changes at Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Rural Water Association
• The Latest on Lewis and Clark
• Water Bar Opens New Storefront
• Operator Training News

2017-2018 Winter

• Plate Settlers Clean Up Ortonville Water
• Lake Elmo Wins State Fair Taste Test
• Lessons Learned in Blaine
• Water and Sports
• Good News and Bad News on the Bottled Water Ban in National Parks
• Minnesota Department of Health Profile: Anna Arkin

2017 Fall

• Highway 53 Rerouting Includes Impact on Virginia Water Supply
• Lewis and Clark Project Gets Needed Funding (and update on Luverne shrimp)
• Safe Drinking Water Week in Minnesota
• Bloomington Wins Hydrant Hysteria Competition

2017 Summer

• Shoreview Thrives with New Water Plant
• Water May Bring Shrimp to Luverne
• Governor Dayton and Clean Drinking Water Starts with Me! Poster Contest - and 25 by '25
• Slovenija Declares Water a Human Right
• Dan Boyce of East Grand Forks Retires
• Osseo Water Tower May Be Placed on Historic Register
• Water Bar Coming to the State Fair

2017 Spring

• Clean Water Mural Unveiled in Minneapolis
• Lewis and Clark Project Moving through Minnesota
• St. Cloud Recognized for Source Water Protection Projects
• Ellingboe Takes over as ASDWA President
• Effluent to Beer
• MDH Drafts Interconnection Policy
• Three Minnesotans on Blue Ribbon Commission for On-Site Non-Potable Systems

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