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The plant — which should begin treating water next spring — will ensure Rushford’s water won’t exceed state radium guidelines, said Rushford City Administrator Windy Block.
The city has known for several years that water from its principal well exceeded radium guidelines set by the Minnesota Department of Health, Block said. Rushford has diluted water from the principal well with water from other wells to stay below the state standards.
When the new plant comes on line in May 2009, Rushford will be able to use the principal well exclusively if necessary, Block said.
“All the pieces of the puzzle are there to move forward,” Block said. “Long-term, it was in our best interest.”
Thursday’s announcement finalized a preliminary commitment by the Minnesota’s Public Facilities Authority, which will make a low-interest loan to Rushford to bankroll the project.
Rushford water customers will pay for the project through user fees, he said.
The city had planned to build the treatment plant before the August flood, and had gone as far as bidding out project, Block said. The floods caused some minor engineering changes that boosted its project cost about $100,000.
The floods also contaminated Rushford’s principal well with bacteria, Block said. The principal well hasn’t been used since last August, forcing the city to rely on a backup well in the interim.
Construction on the new system could begin next week, since the project already has been bid out, Block said.
Contact Mark Sommerhauser at (507) 453-3514 or msommerhauser@winonadailynews.com.
