HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-167 CCRMember Philip Cohen introduced the following resolution and
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 29 -167
RESOLUTION RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS UNDER THE
SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT
WHEREAS, the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota has a population (1980)
of 31,230; and
WHEREAS, the Brooklyn Center municipal water system meets all federal and
state standards for potable water; and
WHEREAS, the Council is committed to protecting the health and safety
of the public and the Council commends the Congress for working diligently to
establish health and safety standards that will ensure that all Americans will
have safe drinking water; and
WHEREAS, proposed USEPA rules would require cities to assume the
responsibility for maintaining water quality not only in the cities'
distribution systems but also in the privately -owned water service lines to
homes and structures and "to the tap" of those homes and structures; and
WHEREAS, it is the opinion of the Council that adoption of the proposed
rules will place cities into the position of responsibility for maintenance of
water quality on private properties and in private homes and buildings, and to
assume liabilities for the maintenance of water quality in privately -owned
systems; and that such responsibilities and liabilities are untenable and
unacceptable; and
WHEREAS, proposed USEPA rules regulating the disinfection of water that
stipulate contact time with the disinfection agent would require the City to
either build a water treatment and holding facility or change its disinfection
agent to one that would have the side effect of precipitating manganese at an
aesthetically unacceptable level, again resulting in a need to construct a
water treatment facility. Consulting engineers estimate that construction of
such a facility would cost the customers of the Brooklyn Center municipal water
system approximately $8 million, increasing water rates by almost 350 percent;
and
WHEREAS, the treatment facility would have an additional, as yet
undetermined annual operation and maintenance financial impact; and
WHEREAS, it is the opinion of the Council that the adoption of the
rules as proposed will result in major public expenditures such as those detailed
above, with few or no health benefits and placing unnecessary financial burden
on the users of the system.
III NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, that:
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RESOLUTION NO. 89 -167
1. This Council supports the intent of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
2. This Council respectfully requests that the Congress of the United
States amend the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
so as to limit the cities' responsibility for water quality
maintenance to the public distribution system, in accordance with the
historically established division of responsibility and liability.
3. This Council respectfully requests that the Congress of the United
States amend the proposed rules regarding testing for lead and copper
so as to provide for less complex, more achievable and more
cost effective standards and methods.
4. This Council respectfully requests that the Congress of the United
States amend the proposed rules regarding disinfection of water to
allow chloramines to be continued to be used as a disinfection agent,
regardless of available contact time, by utilities that have
historically experienced no disinfection problems, specifically
providing authority to the States to grant variances.
August 2.8, 1989
Date M
ATTEST k. RA --C�.0
Deputy Clerk (j
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by
member Jerry Pedlar and upon vote being taken thereon, the following
voted in favor thereof: Dean Nyquist, Celia Scott, Todd Paulson, Jerry Pedlar,
and Philip Cohen;
and the following voted against the same: none,
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.