The percentage of “unaccountable water”— water that is pumped into the city water lines but does not show up on water meters that measure the amount of water entering buildings— has decreased dramatically in the last several years. From January through November of this year, it was 34 percent, down from 55-60 percent several years ago, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Tom Nelson reported to the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on December 15.
Nelson attributed this improvement largely to replacement of infrastructure under the ground in downtown Grand Marais. He said in the southwestern part of the country, public utility agencies try to get the percentage down to no more than five or ten percent. Since Grand Marais sits beside such a huge water supply, its water loss is less significant than in desert areas. The water that is lost is clean and simply drains back into the water table and Lake Superior where it came from.
Nelson reported that G & G Septic’s treatment facility in Cedar Grove Business Park is turning out to be a win-win situation. It is a revenue stream for the city and it solves the difficulty owner Pete Gresczyk had in finding suitable septic field sites within the county.
No foul smells are being reported from the treatment facility, where solids are separated from liquids (which go into the city sewer system) and then transported to Duluth.
Cook County resident Greg Lykins has been hired to replace Colin Voss at the sewer plant and will start his new job on January 10. He has been working at Bluefin Bay in Tofte and holds a water license through the Minnesota Department of Health and a wastewater license through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “He looked like a pretty good, outstanding fellow,” Nelson told the board.
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