Item 3.9 Wellhead Protection Annual Plan
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Utilities Utility Manager Neidermeier January 12, 2026
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty 3.9 – Wellhead Protection Plan
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
X Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative communication.
X Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and expectations in a
cost-effective manner.
Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommend the City Council accept the Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The City maintains a Wellhead Protection Plan (Plan), established in 2005; amended in 2016 that provides
management strategies to mitigate municipal well contamination risks. The Plan reviews source water origination
and underground water movement to establish Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMA). Protection of
these source waters and DWSMAs are identified in the Plan. Attached is the document the Wellhead Protection team
tracks various action items and its progress to assist in keeping our source water safe.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to accept the 2026 Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
Fund 601 – Drinking Water Utility
Yes
TO: Otsego Mayor & City Council
FROM: Kurt Neidermeier,
Wellhead Protection Manager, City of Otsego
DATE: January 12, 2026
RE: Wellhead Protection Plan Update
The Wellhead Protection Plan (WHP) serving the Otsego Public Water System received
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) approval in 2016. The approved plan assessed
source water vulnerability and provides management strategies to protect these
sources. Included are the WHP action items and updates as part of the Annual Report
and Plan Self Evaluation.
Reporting and Evaluation Action Items:
Complete an annual report and brief the Council on management priorities for the
upcoming year and the status of implementation. Due annually – This report
2017 March 16, Public Works Subcommittee (PWSC); March 27 Council Consent
2018 February 21, PWSC; February 26 Council Consent
2019 January 23, PWSC; January 28 Council Consent
2020 January 22, PWSC; January 27 Council Consent
2021 February 17, PWSC; February 22 Council Consent
2022 January 19, PWSC; January 24 Council Consent
2023 January 9, Council Consent
2024 January 8, Council Consent
2025 January 13, Council Consent
2026 January 12, Council Consent
Priorities for 2026/2027:
• Identify & explore new water source(s) for Well House 3 and South-Central
Water Treatment sites.
• Monitor & communicate Mt Simon aquifer observation well data with DNR.
• Consider alternative water sources for impaired water sources and water
treatment options to minimize aquifer vulnerability.
• Prepare funding and direction for Well Head Protection plan updating.
• Solidify backflow prevention program coordination & monitoring, improve new
installation communications.
• System interconnect phase 2 construction completion in 2027 benefiting system
risk and resilience allowing less dependency on critical assets.
Conduct a self-evaluation:
Each 2.5 years evaluate WHP progress & submit report to the MDH Planner.
2018 – April electronic submission.
2021 – March electronic submittal
2024 – December 2023 electronic submittal
2026 – Scheduled mid-year
Inner Wellhead Management Zone (IWMZ) Action Items:
Assist MDH staff in completing the IWMZ Inventory for the Public Water Supply wells.
Status – Maintained
Follow all setback requirements for new potential contaminant sources within the
IWMZ. Continuously monitored and followed
Implement the WHP Measures and Findings in the IWMZ inventory and requirements of
the Sanitary Survey Report. 2016 – 2025 Monitoring and followed
Contact the MDH Planner if changes to the locations or construction of potential
contaminant sources are proposed in the IWMZ. Status – Continuously monitored
2016 – 2025 No changes to locations or construction of potential contaminant sources
proposed in the IWMZ.
Land Use Controls and Management Action Items:
The City will explore options to strengthen language in the cross-connection ordinance.
Status Complete - Cross-connection ordinance in place and properly regulate cross
connections. The City maintains & enforces a backflow prevention program.
The City will evaluate their zoning ordinances and make necessary changes to
strengthen controls in regard to properly managing wells and storage tanks within City
limits and the Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (DWSMA).
Status Complete – Zoning ordinances in place & properly support management areas.
Data Collection Action Items:
Work in cooperation with MDH, collect tritium sample from the public supply wells as
directed by MDH.
Status – MDH has not requested tritium sampling during this Plan cycle as it is in a 10-
year cycle. The aquifer vulnerability score is low based on previous sampling.
Incorporate instrumentation within Well#6 in order to provide more detailed water
quantity information. Status Complete – equipment was installed for level monitoring
during 2016 well inspection & maintenance.
Cooperate with MDH to ensure the City manages radium levels providing safe drinking
water to their residents.
Operations Staff conduct routine monitoring per MDH direction supporting safe drinking
water. A Memorandum of Agreement is in place and reviewed annually for radium
concentrations to mitigate radium levels and maintain water quality within set
standards.
Well 1 - high radium concentrations, removed from service and sealed in 2019.
Well 2 – high radium concentrations, only used for emergency purposes and included in
memorandum of agreement with the MDH.
Well 8 – high radium concentrations, operated minimally to ensure meeting safe
drinking water standards, included within memorandum of agreement.
Well 9 – installed in 2020 to support capacity and water quality. A Water Master Plan
was completed in 2019 adopted by Council in 2020.
Well 10 – installed in 2023 to support capacity and water quality.
Well 11 – Installed in 2025 further support capacity and water quality.
South Central Wellfield study, hydrogeology reviews with aquifer testing will benefit the
community with alternative water sources.
Pressure filtration at Wellhouse 4 Water Treatment will complete spring 2026,
Wellhouse 3 water treatment construction begins 2026 & design South-Central location.
A system interconnect is established with phase 2 planned to benefit system risk &
resilience & critical asset reliance.
The City will contact the MDH Hydrologist & ask for their assistance in helping to select
an alternative site for drilling a new public supply well in case one is needed in the
future. The City can apply for MDH grants to help offset the cost of exploratory drilling
and water quality sampling etc.…
Status – Operations and Engineering review water supply needs on an annual basis to
ensure demands are met. Capital planning is preparing funding for additional water
storage and water production capacity to meet community growth.
Irrigation Restrictions have been implemented, & educational water conservation
material is available on the City website and reminded within Utility Billings.
2016 -2018
▪ Interconnect Wellhouse 4 with West System – Kadler Ave. Watermain Project
▪ Water Supply Plan completed & adopted
▪ Well 5 Maintenance – Pump & Motor replaced
▪ Water Tower 1 refurbished for added storage support, East Public System
▪ Well 7 upsized and installed to support the West Public Water System
▪ Well House 4 improvements completed
2019-2021
▪ Water Master Planning approved prepared for 2020 approval
▪ Cooperation occurred with the MDH and DNR reviewing locations of a new
water source well for the Public Water System.
▪ A test well successfully identified a new well to be drilled in 2020.
▪ Grants were applied for and received.
▪ Water Master Plan approved
▪ Well 9 installed
▪ Rate Study conducted recommending reinforced irrigation rates
▪ Received implementation grant for new well exploration scheduled 2022
▪ New water rate structure implemented
▪ Hydrogeological study approved
2022-2024
▪ Received implementation & competitive grant, well exploration & testing
▪ Completion of E/W Water system interconnect
▪ Telemetry improvements
▪ Well 10 operational and well 11 complete
▪ Identify next water source wells and evaluate quality and quantities.
▪ Secure land for water resources.
▪ Progress water treatment institution
▪ Strengthen system resilience and minimize system risks
2025+
▪ Received grant for Mt. Simon Observation well; construction completed.
▪ Telemetry improvements for monitoring and trending.
▪ Identified water source wells to evaluate quality & quantities.
▪ Water treatment design and construction.
▪ Strengthen system resilience and minimize system risks
Potential Contaminant Source Management Action Items:
The City will apply for a grant via MDH to secure funds to seal any unused, unsealed
wells located within the DWSMAs. If funding is not available via MDH, the City will work
cooperatively with local units of government to provide as much cost share as possible
to help seal the wells. The City will request MDH Well Management assistance with
locating wells on properties where the City feels there might be unused unsealed wells.
Status – no unused unsealed wells identified at this time. As new developments are
considered, wells within that property are identified and reviewed for closure or system
separation.
Well 1, with high radium concentrations was removed from service & sealed in 2019.
The Wellhead Protection Team/Manager will continually attempt to locate potential
contaminant sources in the DWSMA. This will be accomplished through direct contact
with landowners and through visual observation as the WHP team travels through the
DWSMA. Status - Ongoing
Cooperate with MDH & DNR Hydrologists as requested to help assess any potential
impacts on the public water supply well(s) or 1.5 miles of the DWSMA boundary. If
impacts are identified cooperatively work with the high capacity well owner, DNR &
MDH Hydrologist to identify & resolve any potential negative impacts. Status – Ongoing
The City will share information regarding the location of any potential Class V well(s)
with the MDH if any well(s) are located within the DWSMA in the future.
Status – In 2018 a potential Class V well was investigated through communication of
the MDH and EPA however found compliant. No Class V wells have been identified by
the WHP team.
The City will contact the MPCA tank program and ask MPCA to update them on the
Leaky Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) site located within their Central DWSMA and
communicate the risk this site may have on the City’s drinking water supply.
Status Complete – communications with MPCA have occurred with official request for
information complete.
If a critical issue or potential contaminant threat becomes an issue in the future for the
City, the City will promptly take actions to prevent this contaminant source from
polluting their drinking water supply. Status – Continuous
Public Education and Outreach Action Items:
The City will provide a short summary of the new wellhead protection amendment in
the City’s newsletter and direct residents to the City’s website for detailed education
materials.
2017 – A short summary of the Wellhead Protection amendment was added to the City
Website and linked to the MDH “Well Owner’s Handbook - A Consumer’s Guide to Water
Wells in Minnesota Fourth Edition updated January 2014 to provide a reference for well
maintenance and water safety.
Post WHP educational materials on the city website dealing with proper well
management, water conservation etc.
Completed – water conservation ideas and suggestions are available on the City website
along with linked MDH reference information on well management.
Provide the MRWA Essay and Poster contest information to the school yearly &
encourage participation. Completed annually each winter
MRWA classroom activities are distributed to Otsego schools for consideration to include
in lesson plans of the 4th grade students. 2020 – poster contest winner
Wellhead Protection Team Members:
Wellhead Protection Manager: Kurt Neidermeier
Engineering: Ron Wagner
Operations: Matt Flintrop, Justin Mielke, Seth Wilkes, Nick Beste, Renee Devries
Robert Small, Andy Lindenfelser, Reese Carstens, Renzo Vita and Charles
Schanlaub