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SUMMER 1998
2305 East 5th Street
Duluth Minnesota 55812-1445
As the summer heats up so do
the calls to the Minnesota Water Line. In June, we received 80 calls
from people concerned about issues related to water quality. As agents
at County Extension offices and other offices from around the state
become familiar with using the Minnesota Water Line and referring
callers to the Line, the calls will only increase in years to come.
Common questions that have been asked lately are concerned with nuisance
bacteria in wells and how to deal with them, options and consumer
information about home water treatment, and septic system maintenance
and construction.
calls per month to the minnesota
water line in 1997
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Note: We have noticed that
there is a wide range of numbers of calls/county coming into the Water
Line (from 0 to 100 calls/county). Obviously, some of the variation
is due to a wide range in population between the counties. However,
some of the smaller counties have promoted the Water Line and, consequently,
we have seen a significant number of people calling from those smaller
counties (For example, 17 calls from Cook County alone).
Special thanks to Carlton,
Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Isanti, Itasca, Lake, Pope, Sibley,
Sherburne, Steele, and Wabasha Counties for their financial support
of the Minnesota Water Line within the past year.
question of the season
I heard that all new septic
systems have to be the expensive "mound" type systems, Is that
true?
No, although many people
are under the impression that the only approved septic system is
a mound system. In fact, with the right type of soils that accept
and treat the wastewater like sand, gravel, loams, etc. and at least
5 feet of unsaturated soils above the ground water a conventional
in-ground system will treat the wastewater that enters the drainfield
and is an approved method. A mound system is needed when the water
table is close to the surface (where a conventional in-ground would
present a ground water contamination hazard) and/or the soils are
not permeable enough to accept the wastewater entering the drainfield.
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