Letters to the Editor - Water Quality Problems - Call 311 if you have water quality problems

    Last summer many Shingle Creek neighborhood streets were lined with concrete cylinders, water pipes and warning lights. The City of Minneapolis responded to complaints made by area residents about rusty tap water. The main lines, the source of the problem, are being cleaned and lined as part of a long range program to improve the quality of the Minneapolis water system.

    The pipes beneath the streets that help transport water to our neighborhood, known as main lines, are the original cast iron pipes. These pipes have corroded over time, causing rusty water and mineral deposits that discolor the water. The city is upgrading the main lines by scraping the mineral deposits off the inside of the pipes and applying a cement mortar lining to the inside of the pipes to prevent further corrosion and improve the water flow. Additionally, old main line valves are replaced as part of the water system upgrade. Water Distribution Department Engineer Stuart Kirschbaum said this system is an effective solution to the rusty water problem and is more economical than replacing all the main lines.

    This project will be ongoing and is scheduled for completion by the end of summer 2012. Main lines planned for cleaning and lining in 2008 are in the following areas: 51st Avenue from Xerxes to Penn; 49th Avenue from Xerxes to Penn; 49th to 50th Avenues on Upton and Thomas; and 49th to 52nd Avenues from Xerxes to Vincent and Sheridan to Penn.

    Kirschbaum said the city is receiving favorable calls from areas where the main lines have been cleaned and lined. Residents living in areas still awaiting main line cleaning and lining should call 311 and let the city know when they are experiencing water quality problems. Minneapolis Water Works keeps detailed records of these calls as part of an ongoing study of city water quality problems. This information, along with lab samples taken in the water system, is used to prioritize areas where main lines should be cleaned and lined. Also, by alerting the city to water quality problems, maintenance workers can identify and flush out specific main lines, providing a short-term solution for residents in areas where main lines have not been cleaned and lined. For info regarding water quality call 311.