Water
Shoreview Water Source
The City of Shoreview's goal is to provide high quality, safe, reliable drinking water that surpasses every state and federal requirement. Shoreview is fortunate to have a very clean and safe water source: the Jordan aquifer. An aquifer is an underground lake imbedded in rock, in this case a sandstone rock layer. Our wells are about 400-500 feet deep and we blast a cavity, like a large cave, in the rock at the bottom of the well. We then draw our drinking water from the water that seeps through the rock to this cavity. The Jordan water has spent many decades flowing through the rock layers to reach our wells. During that long period, organisms that might have caused diseases have died and been filtered out by the rock layers.
During this flow through the rock, the water dissolves some of the minerals imbedded there. The only major impact we see in our water is from the limestone, where we pick up calcium. The calcium from the limestone is the major contributor to the hardness in Shoreview's water. Hardness is the measure of dissolved minerals that are in the water. We average 15 grains of hardness throughout the city, and this is considered moderately hard.
Though we have very good source water, we do take additional steps to comply with the Minnesota Department of Health rules. We add fluoride to the water to allow bodies to build stronger bones and teeth. We also add chlorine to the water. Chlorine is a very strong disinfectant and assures that no harmful bacteria or organisms can grow in the system. We have very precise equipment to add these items and we also test the water daily to assure we have the right amounts of chlorine and fluoride throughout the water system.
Shoreview has six wells in operation. During the winter months, one well produces about 1.5 million gallons of water per day. During peak demand periods, mainly summer months, it may be necessary to run all six wells to meet water requirements. When necessary, the wells can produce up to 11 million gallons a day. The water utility is not funded through taxes. Operating costs are covered by billing for metered water use. We charge less than a dollar to pump, store, treat and deliver each 1,000 gallons of tested and certified safe drinking water to your house.
Water Softening
The City of Shoreview averages the water hardness across the city, and resulting level of hardness is 15 grains. This is moderately hard. Use this number when setting your water softener. While using a water softener is not required, many individuals choose to have private water softeners installed.
Water and Sewer Emergencies
If you have a problem with your sewer line or if you notice a large volume of water running down the street which could be a water main break, call the Utilities Division at 651.490.4661 or Public Works at 651.490.4650 between the hours of 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
After hours, emergencies can be reported by calling the Ramsey County Sheriff's office at 651.484.3366. The Sheriff's Department will contact the Public Works Department to assess the problem.
Current Water Quality Report
View Current Water Quality Report (2009)→
Utility Billing
Watering Restrictions
Water Restrictions are in effect from May 15 - September 15, annually. Residents with even numbered houses (last digit of house address) can water lawns on even number calendar days, odd numbered houses on odd number calendar days.
The City implemented water use restrictions in 2005 in response to major projects that had a direct impact on the municipal water system. The restrictions effectively accomplished a reduction in the peak demand of Shoreview's municipal water system while components of the system were off-line. Prior to last year, the City had been experiencing a trend of increasing numbers of large demand pumping days, at or near the maximum capacity of the system.
During these extreme pumping events, every aspect of the City's municipal water system must function perfectly with no margin for error or breakdown. Odd/even-type water use restrictions have the effect of lowering the maximum demand on any given day and spreading it across multiple days, making it more manageable from an operational standpoint.
Meeting peak demand for the community is the dominant factor in determining the need for future system additions like water towers and wells. Some water utilities use water restrictions to purposely hold down peak demands and accordingly delay the need for additional infrastructure. It is possible that, while our system could be adequately sized to meet the normal needs of our projected growth, continued increase in the number and/or magnitude of peak demand days could drive the need for more infrastructures.
Penalties
Penalties shall be billed to the customer and collected as part of the City's utility bill and are as follows:
- 1st Penalty - Warning
- 2nd Penalty - $25.00
- 3rd Penalty - $50.00
- 4th Penalty - Turned over to City Attorney for prosecution.
These restrictions do not apply to properties that use a private well for watering purposes, or for water uses including car washing, filling of children's swimming pools, children playing in a hose operated sprinkler or water toy, or hand-held watering of plants and shrubs.
Residents with newly sodded or seeded yards may obtain an exemption from the odd-even restriction for a period of two weeks. Residents requiring an exemption should contact the Shoreview Public Works Department at 651.490.4650.
Water Use Resources
Rain Sensors
Keep your lawn green while saving water, money. Does your automatic sprinkler turn on even if it's pouring rain? There is a way to prevent that! It is recommended that rain sensors be installed on all new residential and commercial sprinkler systems in Shoreview. This is an easy way we can help to conserve Shoreview's water supply.
The savings in water charges from the use of a rain sensor could pay for its cost in the first season. It's estimated that a rain sensor will save 1,225 gallons of water per household on every rainy day.
A rain sensor detects when it's raining and shuts off the sprinkler system. The cost for a typical rain sensor is usually under $40. There is an additional charge for installation, if needed. Sensors can be purchased from some home improvement stores or from your lawn sprinkler service company.
Watering Tips
Watering twice a week is usually enough to keep a healthy lawn growing. In general, your lawn needs about one inch of water per week, including rainfall, to keep it green during the growing season. Water only when your lawn needs it, rather than on a set schedule. One sign that a lawn needs water is when it lacks enough moisture to spring back after you walk on it. If it stays flat, it's time to water.
When Should I Water?
Water deeply and infrequently. Deep watering promotes a deep root system, while over-watering promotes shallow root growth, making your lawn less hardy.
- Following a heavy rain, skip your regular watering until the grass needs it.
- Delay regular lawn watering during the first cool weeks of spring. This encourages deeper rooting and makes your lawn healthier for the rest of the summer. It also delays the first time you have to mow the grass.
- If you have an automatic sprinkler system, check the heads periodically. Be sure they haven't shifted direction to spray water on the side of the house, driveway, or sidewalk instead of the lawn.
- More water is dispensed faster with a larger diameter hose. Sprinklers that throw large drops in a flat pattern are much more effective than those with fine, high sprays, which can be blown about and evaporated quickly.
- Don't water your lawn too much. An automatic system can be preset, but a sprinkler on the end of a hose needs your personal attention. Buy timer attachments that hook on between the faucet and hose, or set a kitchen timer to ring in 15 or 20 minutes to remind you to move the sprinkler to a new area.
- Not all soil is the same. If your grass grows on mostly clay soil, between 1/4 and 1/2 inch of water per hour can be absorbed before it starts running off wastefully. If you have sandy soil, you'll need to water more often and for shorter periods of time.
- Grassy areas on sunny southern sides of buildings or on slopes and areas near sidewalks and driveways need to be watered more often. Shady areas and northern exposures need water less frequently.
- Use root feeder or water-aerator probes around trees and bushes. Even for the biggest trees, you need go no deeper than 18 inches, while 8 to 12 inches is plenty deep for smaller trees and shrubs. The probes get water precisely where it's needed and simultaneously create lots of little holes that provide aeration benefits.
Fire Hydrants
In the event of a fire emergency during the winter, could firefighters find the hydrant near your home? Or does it get buried under a snow pile? The city encourages residents with a hydrant near their home to keep snow shoveled away from it during the winter season. This will ensure hydrants are visible and will greatly speed the response time in case of an emergency. Please don't let your neighborhood hydrant get buried. The fire department and your neighbors will greatly appreciate your efforts.
Each year, in the spring and fall, Shoreview Utility Maintenance crews flush fire hydrants to ensure their reliability and to remove any mineral buildup in the system. Though flushing may occasionally discolor the water for a few minutes, it is safe to drink.
Residents may notice discolored water for a short period, after nearby hydrants have been flushed. Although the water is safe for consumption, you may want to reschedule laundry or other work that may be affected by the discolored water. If the water is discolored, flush out your service pipes by running the laundry tub faucet or the outside faucets.
For more information, contact the Utilities Division at 651.490.4661.
Fluoride Treatment
Thousands of research studies and 60 years of experience have shown that water fluoridation is safe, effective, and the best method of improving oral health in a community. Water fluoridation is recognized as a major public health achievement of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Although tooth decay is largely preventable, it remains the most common chronic disease of children aged 5 to 17 years. In the U.S., tooth decay affects:
- 1 out of 4 elementary school children
- 2 out of 3 adolescents
- 9 out of 10 adults
Both children and adults benefit from water fluoridation. Studies have demonstrated that people in communities with fluoridated water have 20 to 30 percent less tooth decay than those in communities without fluoridated water.
The cost to fluoridate water for the lifetime of one person is less than the cost to treat one cavity. Every dollar spent on fluoridation saves $38 in avoided dental bills.
In 2002, the CDC estimated that 66 percent of U.S. residents who receive their water from community water systems, or 170 million people, had access to fluoridated water. The Healthy People 2010 goal is to increase this to75 percent. In Minnesota, 98.4 percent of the population connected to public water supplies receives fluoridated water, resulting in better oral health, less dental pain, and fewer cavities for millions of people. For more information, contact the Public Utilities Division at 651.490.4661.
Sustainable Shoreview Tips
Keep Our Lakes Clean
You can help keep our lakes clean by following a few easy spring yard care tips.
To prevent extra polluted runoff into the storm sewers:
- Pick up and dispose of pet waste, trash, dirt, sand, and leaves.
- Direct water from downspouts away from your house and paved surfaces and onto the lawn where it can soak naturally into the ground.
- Clean gutters regularly.
To restore your lawn:
- Add vegetation to your yard. It filters more rainwater than a bare yard.
- Vegetation and mulch prevent runoff pollution and soil erosion.
- Re-seed bare spots on the lawn. If spots are caused by salt, re-seed with a salt-tolerant grass mix.
- Remove debris and yard trimmings.
- Avoid over-fertilizing and don't use phosphorus fertilizer.
- Keep lawn care products out of runoff.
- Read and follow label directions.
- Wait until the ground thaws before applying lawn care products.
- Sweep up and reuse lawn care products that fall onto the streets, sidewalks, and driveways.