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Grinnell Water Treatment Plant Update

Posted on 02/13/2023 at 9:50 AM



Ambassadors recently visited the Grinnell Water Treatment Plant. We’ve been hearing a lot of feedback about the city’s water quality and in particular, the softening system. Our visit was incredibly insightful and while soft water is very important from a quality of life perspective, it’s one of many critical issues that also need to be addressed at the water treatment plant. We’ll touch on the status of the softening system along with more information about the other updates planned.

 



 Softener Status
Like many communities across the country, the City of Grinnell’s water treatment infrastructure is well past its prime. According to Water Department Director Jordon Altenhofen, there are no physical records that date the specific building of the current water plant but estimates put it at 80+ years old and its most recent upgrades were done in the 1990s. The Water Treatment facility utilizes zeolite softening primarily for hardness removal. This system is similar to your home water softener but on a much bigger scale. The steel tanks pictured are where the water and salt mix before it goes through the chemical treatment process. Grinnell’s facility has limited treated water storage (more on this tomorrow) so the tanks, when in use, also worked as limited additional capacity for our system. To do this, they were constantly full and under increased pressure. Salt water and steel don’t mix well, so repairs have been made over the years until recently. The quality of the steel has deteriorated to the point where patches can no longer be made. The softeners were taken offline in the Spring of 2022. It’s important to note that Grinnell’s water, while hard, is still safe to drink. The water is still being chemically treated before it arrives to residents.

So why not replace it? To replace the current tanks would cost in the millions. Our zeolite system is no longer the standard recommended practice for community water softening. The used salt water in the backwashing process inevitably makes its way to the wastewater system and ultimately put back into the environment. Should we continue to use the current softening system at the same levels of salt, we would be required to make additional updates to the wastewater plant to remove chlorides. Grinnell had budgeted to spend $238,000 on salt for FY ‘23, this money will instead be put towards improvements in the distribution systems. The City is looking to replace our current system with Membrane Treatment Technology. The new membrane system will also assist in the removal of more constituents like Gross Alpha Particles, Radium, Ammonia and others which are naturally occurring in the water pulled from our water source, the Jordan Aquifer. Once the new plant is online, it will produce high quality water that it will likely negate the need for in-home systems.

The City of Grinnell is working with McClure Engineering to study the community needs, develop a plan and design a new water treatment plant. Preliminary studies are being finalized and an initial plan will be presented to council in the near future. The current goal is to have the new plant on-line in 2026. Spending millions to do a temporary patch on existing, worn out equipment that will ultimately be rendered unusable is not recommended. Instead, the city will continue to operate with the softeners offline and will be putting its resources towards new water infrastructure for the City of Grinnell.

 



Capacity Issues
As mentioned above, Grinnell has limited capacity to store treated water. The Grinnell water tower was built in 1926 and holds 300,000 gallons of treated water. Grinnell uses, on average, 1.2 million gallons of water per day. The Iowa DNR recommends that cities be able to hold enough treated water to service community needs for 24 hours. If you do the math, that means Grinnell currently has enough storage to hold roughly 6 hours of water for the town, should the plant ever need to be taken offline. We’ll address one of the reasons the plant may need to come offline in Saturday's post.

As part of the new water treatment plant plans, the city is planning to build a new water tower on the south side of town. Current designs for the new tower estimate it will hold 1 million gallons of treated water. The new plant will also have additional on-site storage of 0.3 million gallons. Those two, paired with the existing tower which holds 0.3 million gallons, equal a grand total of 1.6 million gallons of stored, treated water. This puts us above the DNR recommendation and allows for business and residential growth of the community.

When Grinnell lost power for a week after the derecho, the water treatment plant did not have a whole building generator that allowed them to continue operations of the entire facility. Instead, they utilized a Cummins diesel engine that was used to supply one of the pumps with rotation. This process must be manually monitored by staff but does get the water from the wells into the lines to be treated. A second Honda generator then powered the chemical feed pumps to treat the water before it was pushed out into the service lines. While this system does work, it is certainly not ideal. The new plant will have a better power backup system that will allow for more automation and supply the entire facility with power in the event the plant loses access to its main power supply again.
 



Lead Line Problems
Another key piece of the water process is getting treated water to businesses and residents. Grinnell has 65 miles of water service lines! Approximately 17 miles of this was built in 1930 or before, with some systems dating pre-1900s. Grinnell has just shy of 500 fire hydrants, 1,300 main valves and around 3,300 home/business connections. Based on records, the city knows that at minimum 30% of the home/business connections are still lead lines. Their staff estimates that the actual number is closer to 50%. After the Flint, Michigan’s water crisis, the EPA is updating their standards and is phasing out the use of lead water lines. A new ordinance has been introduced to the city’s code that would require the replacement of any lead service lines in the event of a leak or break. The replacement cost for updating this infrastructure averages approximately $6,000. Important to note: the city is not requiring property owners to make updates if there is not a current issue.

To help offset the cost of replacement, Grinnell City Council recently approved an agreement with HomeServe (Service Line Warranties of America) to offer insurance to Grinnell property owners. This insurance would cost property owners around $6-7 per month and will pay for repairs per incident up to $8,500 with no deductible after 30 days from the start of the insurance. Property owners should expect to begin to see letters in the mail from HomeServe by the end of February or beginning of March. We encourage you to check with your local insurance provider to see what options may be available on your current policy.

The city has both electronic and paper records of work done to about â…“ of properties in Grinnell over the years. If you’d like to learn more about your own property, please contact Altenhofen at 641-236-2635 or email jaltenhofen@grinnelliowa.gov.

It’s important to note that water department staff test approximately 20 water sources a year and while some lead is detected, it is under the current allowable EPA guidelines. Lead can be found in internal pipes and faucets in addition to the service line from the main to the house. If residents are interested in testing their water, Altenhofen recommended working with Keystone Labs in Newton. Tests cost $25.25 and can tell property owners if lead is present, though not its exact source. Contact Altenhoven or Keystone Labs to learn more about testing.

 



Pipe Gallery Issues
Arguably the most critical piece of infrastructure updates needed is to the pipe gallery. Pictured is the ductile, mechanical “Y” in the pipe gallery. This section of the pipe is responsible for carrying water that has been chemically treated from the water plant out into the main line distribution system through town. This is the only source of connection between the treated water and the rest of the community water lines. As you can see, the pipe is in incredibly poor condition. Should it break or leak, the water tower would inevitably drain back into the building and the water department would presumably lose its capability to operate.

To repair or replace this piece, the water treatment plant would need to be offline for multiple weeks. If you’ll remember back to Thursday’s post, Grinnell currently has about 6 hours of water on standby. Unfortunately, Grinnell happens to be located in a deadzone for other water suppliers. Rural water suppliers do not have enough pressure or flow to connect to Grinnell and fully service the community.

Altenhofen and his team have come up with an emergency by-pass connection they’re hoping to have online later this year. A small substation will be built in the parking lot south of the plant. This substation will take untreated water, treat it with chlorine, and utilize the existing wells to push the treated water into the water tower which will then go out to the rest of the community. This plan allows for the water treatment services to remain online in the event of the Y bend failure.

The new water treatment plan will be built on the east side of the property where the current plant is located. Once built, the current plant will not be needed. The new plant will have built in bypass systems to allow for the repair of sections if needed.

 


 

Well Information
Before we wrap up this series, we want to take a moment to say thank you to Water Department Director Jordon Altenhofen for his time and willingness to share more information with our Chamber members and community at-large. Jordan has been in his role for almost two years and it’s safe to say he has his work cut out for him as he and his team navigate this complex work. 

Grinnell currently has 5 wells to the Jordan Aquifer. Well 5 & 6 are about 50 feet apart and are located on the property where the plant currently sits. These wells were drilled over 100 years ago. Well 7 was drilled in the 1950s and is located by First State Bank. Well 8 was drilled in 1974 and is located on the Public Services Department property. Well 9 was drilled in 2002 and is near Lake Nyanza.

In addition to the updates we’ve already mentioned this week, the new water treatment plant will require a new well to be drilled while wells 5 & 6 would be taken offline. Well 10 is expected to be drilled on site with the new plant. The option to add an additional well near Hazelwood Cemetery is being explored, should additional community growth increase water needs.

The Iowa DNR requires new water plants to be able to service communities and their possible expanded growth for 20 years. Altenhofen estimates that Grinnell’s new plant will have enough capacity addition options that it should be able to service Grinnell for the next 50 years. The new plant (and all the pieces of infrastructure it will require) is estimated to cost north of $30 million.

City of Grinnell and McClure Engineering are reviewing the final studies and wrapping up the initial plans. We will continue to share updates from the city over the coming months.

Be Like Brent 

Posted on 12/16/2022 at 10:47 AM

Have you ever thought of the impact your dollars have when you shop locally? Really actually thought about it? Your dollars can be recirculated in a much more meaningful and impactful way when spent locally! 

Yesterday, my friend Brent shared his afternoon of shopping Grinnell on social media. Wow - what an impact he had on our community in just one afternoon! Showcasing stop after stop, and giving kudos to the amazing individuals he encountered in each location, his dollars are going to be recirculating in our community in the very near future. Heck, they probably already have! 

If you don't want to Be Like Brent, and showcase your shopping experience online, that's okay but please, please consider supporting our small, locally owned businesses however you can. The dollars you spend with them will recirculate far more quickly right here in our own community than if you choose to purchase online or outside the community. And I know - it may be 'easier' to shop online, but ask yourself this - does Jeff Bezos really need your support? Will he invest in our community when we need help with a community project or infrastructure, or will he come to the table when our local businesses need financial support? 

Please Be Like Brent, and shop Grinnell first this holiday season! It truly does make an impact!! 

 

A Grinnell for All

Posted on 10/21/2022 at 9:13 AM

This one's lengthy, but stick with me folks. It's important. Nearly two months ago, our newsletter titled 'For the Love of Humanity' asked for the community's support to be welcoming to new residents, students and visitors, and many of you reached out then asking how you could be supportive. Fast forward: I am sure by now many of you have heard about several recent hateful incidents on Grinnell College's campus that have made many people feel unwelcome and unsafe in our community, and perhaps even questioning their decision to come here.

As community members, I believe part of our role is to stand up for one another. In my work, I often have the pleasure of sharing all the wonderful things about our community, not only here, but across Iowa. Occasionally, that work also requires me to discuss incredibly difficult things as well - including the recent racial incidents that have occurred in our community.

You might be wondering why the Chamber cares? This is a humanitarian issue. And an economic one. And we care about both.

It is incredibly important that we are a welcoming community, not only to residents but visitors alike. Do you want to visit a community and spend time and money in it when you don't feel welcome? Does the message 'Grinnell is bad for business' impact each and every one of us here? Do recent events have the potential to discourage new residents and businesses, and drive current residents away? The short answer: you bet it does!

If our community is unwelcoming, everyone in our community suffers. We are not able to recruit business, industry, residents, or students. This gravely impacts the economic and social vitality of the Grinnell community. We hear daily from our business community that they are struggling to find workforce - as part of the approach to solve this challenge, we must look to bring in new residents to live and work here, and they need to feel welcome.

We are committed to working with our partners at the college, in the city and amongst our business community toward action; we must be a welcoming community in order to build and grow. While we are actively working with our partners to implement action items, we also recognize that there are incredible people in our community with great ideas to contribute. If you are a community member reading this message and would like to share ideas and/or get involved in solutions, please complete this quick form.

Please join me in coming together to stand up with those being impacted in our community. A Grinnell for All means building a safe and welcoming community, and encourages community members to share their ideas for action and solution.

--Rachael Kinnick

Tax-Free This Weekend!

Posted on 08/08/2022 at 4:11 PM
It's hard to believe we're into August already and quickly approaching one of the biggest events of the month for most families - the return to school! If part of your prep for back-to-school includes updating wardrobes, this weekend is a great opportunity to do so with Iowa's Tax-Free Weekend*! We encourage you to shop at our local retailers first if you're heading out to get new items. Many of our businesses are offering sales and specials this weekend and you'll save money on gas by staying local! Click HERE to find a list off all our independently-owned Grinnell retailers. It may not seem like much but each and every purchase at our small business retailers truly does make a difference!
 
Whether you're sending your kids off locally to a Grinnell-Newburg school or getting packed up to head to college, we hope you're all able to enjoy these last few weeks of summer!
 
*Tax-Free weekend is Friday, August 5 and Saturday August 6. For a full list of qualifying purchases, click here.

What Limits Your Health?

Posted on 07/28/2022 at 4:10 PM
Have you ever thought about that before? Really given it thought to realize what may be limiting or impacting your health and/or your decision to receive healthcare? I've given this a lot of thought recently, especially as my kids are growing older. As you are expecting a baby, you are generally seen by a doctor very frequently and even weekly as you near having the baby. But once the baby is on the ground, it tends to become harder and harder to prioritize your own personal healthcare. Seems ironic to me.
 
But what about other people in and around our community who may not be in this phase of life? Are they able to receive the healthcare they need and deserve? What may be some limiting factors or issues that prevent them from receiving necessary care? Every three years, Public Health Departments across Iowa engage in Community Health Needs Assessments to better identify potential challenges and issues facing Iowans in how they receive their care. Poweshiek County Public Health is embarking on this survey right now, and could use your help. Would you please consider taking a few minutes to complete this online survey to help aid our local public health department in identifying needs across the county?
 
It is possible that you have already taken this online survey, or been called as a random phone participant - if that is the case, you need not complete it again. Once survey responses are compiled, initiatives will be formed to help address some of the top challenges facing our local residents. If you have questions regarding the survey or its process, you are welcome to contact Poweshiek County Public Health directly. 
 
Here's to working together to recognize challenges and identify solutions to help aid one another in our healthcare journeys.  
--Rachael Kinnick 

That Costs How Much?!

Posted on 07/21/2022 at 4:09 PM
This week and last, we have been out visiting our independent retailers and showcasing many of the stores and the specials they'll be offering for this weekend's sidewalk sale event. I love doing this as it gives us the opportunity to share our businesses with each of you, and selfishly I love it because it also gives me the chance to connect with these business owners individually to get the 'state of the state'.
 
But these weeks have shown a new and struggling side of the retail industry. The hill our independently owned retail and restaurant friends have to climb right now is a big one: from staffing challenges to inflation, ever-changing social media algorithms to increased stressors. You may be reading this thinking 'I don't shop locally because they're always higher priced'. But do you know why? Believe it or not, it is not so they can get rich, though they certainly are trying to make a living. Their prices may be higher, in part, because they can't compete with big box stores, they aren't able to purchase in bulk and, of course, inflation has hit them just as hard as it has everyone else. Their freight costs are often more than triple what they were just a year ago, and the inventory often isn't even getting to them in the season when it would sell (e.g. think swimsuits arriving in December!). 
 
The next time you find yourself saying 'That Costs How Much?!' please remember that these small businesses simply cannot absorb the increased costs they're seeing on a routine basis. Margins are generally pretty nominal for small businesses in a normal time, and with such inflated costs of doing business, there are many cases in which they are not making enough to cover their overhead, and are fearful of passing that along to you and I as customers. 
 
Please don't misunderstand this as a plea to financially strap yourself further than you already may be, but do take it as a reminder to support local whenever possible. We have a vibrant business community, and we want to help keep it that way - to do that takes support from many to keep the wheels turning. 
--Rachael Kinnick 
 
p.s. If you haven't been following along, be sure to check out the savings being offered during Saturday's Ridiculous Day. Hope to see you downtown supporting small businesses!

Celebrating the Independents!

Posted on 07/14/2022 at 8:03 AM
It's July, and we're spending part of the month recognizing our independent retailers for Independent Retailer Month! We are fortunate to have so many wonderful locally-owned retailers right here in our community, helping make it in a unique place for residents and visitors alike to shop. Many of us may be yearning for more retailers, and that's okay, too! If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an independent retailer, give our office a call. We'd love to help talk through your idea(s) and determine a possible path forward. 
 
To help celebrate independent retailers this month, we are again hosting our Facebook video series to share more about these businesses as well as their upcoming specials for Ridiculous Day! The event is scheduled for next Saturday, July 23 beginning at 8AM, and our businesses would love to see many of you there enjoying the day and shopping Grinnell. 
 
Independent businesses contribute so much to the economy and fabric of the Grinnell community, and we are grateful they have chosen to call Grinnell home. 
--Rachael Kinnick 

It Can Happen to Anyone!

Posted on 07/07/2022 at 8:02 AM
Has it happened to you? Fraud attempts are becoming more and more prevalent, with both individuals and businesses, and there are an increased number of victims right here in our community. Do you know the signs to look for, and ways to help loved ones who may be the target of scams? This afternoon, we are partnering with the Grinnell Police Department to host a fraud prevention seminar at Drake Community Library beginning at 2pm. Investigator Al Perales with the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General's Office will be onsite to share more about ways to protect yourself, loved ones and your business from various scams. 
 
There are so many different ways scammers are trying to get to people these days, and Al has seen many of them. His knowledge and information on the subject are sure to make you rethink how you go about your daily life, and know the signs to look for to help prevent fraudulent attempts on your person or business, from computer issues to ransoms, grandparent scams and everything in between. 
 
Join us today at 2PM at Drake Community Library to learn more about this important topic and how you can help protect yourself and others. If you aren't able to join us in person, a virtual option is available. Find more, including the link to join virtually, in the event info HERE
--Rachael Kinnick 

Kicking Off the Holiday Weekend!

Posted on 06/30/2022 at 8:01 AM
Kicking Off the Holiday Weekend!
We're kicking off the Fourth of July weekend with lots of fun on tap in Grinnell! Beginning tomorrow, the Grinnell-Newburg All-Class Reunion festivities begin, welcoming alumni back to the Grinnell community with a variety of activities, including class reunions, a 5K, alumni art and talent shows and more. Additionally, Saturday evening will feature an event in Central Park - open to anyone regardless of alumni status - beginning at 7pm with live music, a cash-only beverage garden and Whiplash
 
Take some time to relax on Sunday, then head to Grinnell Historical Museum between 1-4pm to learn more about the community's history. More live music by alumni follows in Central Park between 5-7pm. Afterwards, head over to Merrill Park for $2 tethered hot air balloon rides (weather dependent), sponsored by Re/Max Partners Realty. Proceeds from the rides will benefit the Grinnell-Newburg Alumni Association. 
 
Make plans to join us Monday, July 4 as we celebrate with the annual Fourth of July parade which will begin at 5pm. You can find route and signup information here. The parade is supported by Grinnell College, Re/Max Partners Realty, Clarity Eyecare, Kinetic by Windstream and Windsor Manor. At dusk that evening, fireworks can be viewed from Ahrens Park. The fireworks are supported by the City of Grinnell's Hotel/Motel Tax Committee. 
 
Many more events are happening throughout this weekend and next week; check them all out in our community calendar. I hope you all have a safe and happy Fourth of July!
--Rachael Kinnick
 
p.s. We are still in need of a few volunteers to help with parade lineup (you're still able to be in the parade as well!). Reply here if you're able to help! And don't forget, fireworks are prohibited in City limits.

Summer Has Arrived

Posted on 06/23/2022 at 7:59 AM
Not only did we mark the Summer Solstice this week, but the temperatures have certainly accommodated the change in seasons as well. Summer is my favorite season in Iowa as the weather warms, everything is in full bloom, gardens are starting to produce, we're heavily into the baseball season and, of course, pool time! 
 
The downtown flowers are looking absolutely stunning again this year, and the effort is in large part to a few very dedicated volunteers, the Garden Club and City staff who water them diligently every day. Thank you, all, for helping beautify our downtown in this way every summer. Of course, it's also Farmers Market day, so if your own gardens aren't producing just yet, or you'd rather leave it up to the experts, be sure to stop downtown this afternoon between 3-6PM to gather all sorts of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. 
 
The Grinnell Little League season is winding down this week, and I want to give a shoutout to all the coaches who volunteer their time and energy for several weeks to help guide children through the season, and the Little League volunteers who work hard to pull everything together from field prep to concession stands and anything in between. And since we're talking baseball, if you haven't been following the Grinnell Tigers this summer, I'd encourage you to do so! They're on a roll, and we couldn't be prouder of all the student-athletes making a difference on and off the field. 
 
I hope you'll take some time to enjoy a few of the things I've mentioned this summer in Grinnell, and let me know your favorite summer activities by replying to this email!
--Rachael Kinnick
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