4. a) 8-27-2020 Wastewater Committee - update
City of Scandia
Wastewater Advisory Committee
Wednesday, August 26th 6:30 P.M.
Director of PW - Adam Hawkinson
Staff Report – Wastewater Advisory Committee: 8-26-20
Dual sewer services on one household:
The City is in the process of amending its ordinance to denote that separate services need to be
established as homes are removed and rebuilt that were once dual users of a tank. There has
been an unforeseen issue with what needs to be done. If the person with the power to the dual
unit breaks off the one without the power supply needs to get hooked up. Who pays for that?
Infiltration & inflow - 201 systems:
There is one home that water was found running through their sewer line though no one was
home. I was called to address a sewer alarm that had gone off after a large rain event and no
one was home. The pump in the tank could not keep up with the inflow. Further review of this
address will be scheduled.
Staff is proposing to replace lids accesses for the pump tanks in the yards of several residences
in both the AE and Bliss additions. Some lids are below grade and water runs toward them and
others are level and will take in water in the spring thaw. The sample letter that will be mailed
to residents explaining the process is attached to this report.
201 – Anderson Erickson:
This system is at capacity unless we can solve the I&I issue. This is also the area that brought to
light the power issue noted in the dual tank section that should be discussed.
201 - Bliss:
FEMA funds have arrived for the flooding and pumping that occurred during the spring of 2019.
There should be more funding arriving this month for the replacement of a pump in lift station
#2 and electronic valves in Lift Station #3.
Staff is attempting to mitigate the nitrate issue with mechanical and environmental actions. It
will take some time to see the results of the modifications. By this time next year any impacts
should be evident.
Uptown:
The incoming water from the wells in town are no where near what is being recorded at the
drainfield. A smoke test was performed on the Uptown system to check for leaks. It was used to
find any possible I&I issues with the system. One open access point was discovered. It was not
a large contributor. Also, it was discovered that the pump timers were not recording the proper
time.
Since the pumps run on a timer system, I have been doing my best to calibrate the system so
the holding tank isn’t filling to much or drawing down too much. From the latest information
taken from tracking the tank, this system could be near or at capacity when all businesses and
the church are open for business.