PUBLIC NOTICE
CITY OF WABASSO
DRINKING WATER
JANUARY 12, 2023
The following is an update regarding the City of Wabasso drinking water. The city has been notified by a number of residents that their water continues to have discoloration, and in some instances contains sediment. In most instances the water softener or home filter has removed the sediment and most of the discoloration. The city has flushed sections of the system, but it does not appear that it has addressed the issue. The City Council discussed this issue at its last meeting and has directed staff to continue with its research and do additional testing. Again, all testing to date indicates that the water meets all of MDH regulations except for slightly elevated manganese levels. While manganese is not a regulated mineral, the MDH does issue guidelines for elevated levels. It is believed the elevated manganese levels may be reacting with other trace minerals in the system or in individual services which causes discoloration. The discoloration can be remedied by running your water for 5 to 10 minutes until it clears. In some instances, it may take up to 20 minutes before the water clears. After much research and consultation, the city believes it has found short-term and long-term solutions. The City is going to continually test and treat the water at the plant until the manganese has been significantly reduced, which will take some time until the chemicals and manganese are balanced. In the short term, the city may need to treat individual services which have high levels of discoloration. The city may ultimately need to replace the filter media, shock the wells and make other improvements to the water treatment plant. The city has applied for a grant to cover the cost of these improvements and we are waiting until we receive word on the application. The application is currently on hold as the grant program was not funded last year. If you have a water softener, make sure it is working correctly. As noted above, it is important to check to make sure water softeners are working properly and water filters are clean. The city takes its water treatment very seriously and will continue our efforts to make sure you receive the best water possible. Please contact the city at 507-342-5519 if you have any questions.