Road Closure Announcements

Monday, August 24, 2009 - MPS has scheduled road repairs in Moorhead as a part of MPS’ summer watermain replacement program. On Wednesday, August 26, 2009, MPS’ contractors will be working through the 2009 projects. The three projects included in 2009 are:

1. 20th Avenue from 9th Street to 11th Street South
2. 16th Street from 4th Avenue to 6th Avenue South
3. 18th Street from 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue South

During the next two weeks, contractors will be closing these roads as they work through the project list. Residents that use these roads are encouraged to find alternate routes over the next two weeks.

20th Avenue Closure:

16th Street and 18th Street Closure:

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Road Closed in North Moorhead

Thursday, July 30, 2009 - Moorhead Public Service (MPS) has scheduled a road closure in north Moorhead for watermain repair. The road closure will affect 11th Street North from 8th Avenue to 9th Avenue North beginning today Thursday, July 30, 2009. The watermain is expected to be repaired by the end of the day. Residents that use this portion of 11th Street North are encouraged to find alternate routes during the day.

Road Closure Information:
Street: 11th Street North from 8th Avenue to 9th Avenue North
Dates: Beginning Thursday, July 30, 2009, lasting approximately one day


Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

MPS Employee Receives Scholarship to Further Education

Monday, July 20, 2009 - Dan Portlock, a part-time Water Plant Operator for MPS, received a $2500 scholarship from the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Dan will use the scholarship toward attaining his master’s degree at NDSU in environmental engineering. Dan graduated from NDSU with a civil engineering degree in May, 2009. He intends on continuing to work part-time at the MPS treatment plant throughout his graduate studies. Dan has been employed by MPS since the spring of 2008.

For his graduate research, Dan intends on investigating the formation of bromate at the MPS treatment plant. MPS water treatment plant is in compliance with current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for this contaminant. However, Dan’s research may reveal cost saving measures through optimizing control strategies the treatment facility uses in meeting the EPA regulation. Bromate is a disinfection by-product that is a suspected carcinogen for humans. It can be found in treatment facilities that use ozone or produce bleach on-site for water disinfection.

MPS water plant has over a twenty year history of hiring local university students to assist in operations. Typically, students studying in science or engineering are hired. In addition to helping with MPS operations, students may be attracted into the water and wastewater field. Prior to Dan, other students working for the MPS water plant have received scholarships from the Minnesota Section AWWA. Dan learned of his scholarship in early-July.

Posted by: MPS Water Plant Supervisor, Troy Hall

Watermain Replacement, Why?

Friday, July 10, 2009 - We begin another year of watermain replacement projects for Moorhead Public Service. Did you know that this is 25th year of the watermain replacement program at Moorhead Public Service. Many people ask why we need to replace watermains. There are many answers to that question, and I hope to answer those questions in the next couple of bullets below.

• The main reason behind watermain replacement is to reduce the occurrence of watermain breaks which typically occur during the cold winter months of Minnesota.
• As of 2009, Moorhead Public Service has approximately 40 miles of what we classify as watermain that needs to be replaced.
• The pipe material that is replaced is called Cast Iron Pipe. The soils up in this neck of the woods just causes a lot of corrosion to the pipe which leads to the many watermain breaks that occur.
• The pipe material that we replace the Cast Iron Pipe with is called Polyvinylchloride or PVC. The expected life span of this pipe is well beyond my life time and probably my kids lifetime (100 years or greater).
• As of 2009, it is estimated that the total cost of replacing all of the 40 miles of watermain that needs to be replaced it would cost approximately $30 million dollars.
• At the current rate, MPS replaces about 1 mile of watermain a year. Currently, MPS partners with the City of Moorhead on some projects where the City is replacing the street and the watermain under that street is also replaced during the same project. This at times raises our rate of removal to about 2-3 miles per year.
• During the 2009 construction season, MPS has five areas on tap for watermain replacement. Just a reminder to the residents that are affected by these areas this year, our crews are working as fast as they can to get your area back to normal.

Until next time!

Posted by: MPS Water Distribution Engineer, Jared Heller

Lane Closure for Water Service Repair

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 - Moorhead Public Service (MPS) has scheduled a lane closure in south Moorhead for emergency water service repair. The lane closure will affect northbound traffic in one lane on Eighth Street North from Main Avenue to the railroad tracks beginning today, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. The lane closure is expected to last approximately one week and residents that use this portion of Eighth Street are encouraged to find alternate routes over the next week.

Road Closure Information:
Street: 8th Street North from Main Avenue to the Railroad Tracks
Dates: Beginning Wednesday, July 8, for approximately 1 week

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Moorhead road to be closed for watermain replacement

Monday, June 29, 2009 - Moorhead Public Service has scheduled a road closure in south Moorhead for planned watermain replacement. The road closure will affect Sixteenth Street South from Fourth Avenue and Sixth Avenue South beginning Monday, June 29, 2009. The road closure is expected to last approximately three weeks and residents that use this portion of 16th Street are encouraged to find alternate routes over the next few weeks.

Road Closure Information:
Street: 16th Street South from 4th Avenue to 6th Avenue
Dates: Beginning Monday, June 29, for approximately 3 weeks

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Long-term Drought Planning

Friday, June 26, 2009 - So where do we turn if the Red River dries up? Right now, MPS gets about 85% of our water from the Red. But in the 1930s, there was a severe drought, a drought that actually caused the Red River to stop flowing! An option that MPS is exploring uses an aquifer for water. What is an aquifer? Simply stated, it is a giant underground lake where water can be taken using a well.

MPS has begun work toward the goal of having an aquifer management plan. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Clay County, Minnesota Geological Survey, and other groups will be partners in this project.

The overall goal of the plan is to insure ground water resources in Clay county are available to everyone that needs it should a 1930s-style drought occur. The Buffalo Aquifer and newly discovered Border Aquifer will be of primary interest in the creation of the plan.

One of the objectives in developing the plan is to have an open process and provide the opportunity for public input. To view current status, meeting dates, and other information about the project, the website, http://www.buffaloaquifer.com/ , has been developed and is open to the public.

As one of steps toward plan development, a detailed study of the ground water in Clay County, called a county atlas, will be completed. Work on the atlas should commence in July, 2009. It is anticipated that several years will be required to complete the overall aquifer management plan. No other plan of this type exists in Minnesota at this time.

Posted by: MPS' Water Plant Supervisor, Troy Hall

Road Closure Announcement

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - Last week, MPS announced a road closure for 20th Avenue South. MPS crews began working on a watermain replacement project between 9th Street and 11th Street. This area is expected to be closed for about 3 weeks as crews replace old cast iron pipes with new pipes that will last for several years. Below is a map of the affected areas:

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness

Drinking Water Week 2009!

Monday, May 4, 2009 -Happy Drinking Water Week everyone!

May 3 through May 9, 2009 in Drinking Water Week in the United States. During this week, MPS asks you, "What can your water do?"

Water can:

• Clean your dishes
• Keep your car clean
• Fight fires
• Wash clothes
• Help your plants grow
• and Keep you healthy

Tap water is the lifeblood of our communities. Think about it, our tap water sustains us. It provides health protection, fire protection, support for our economy, and the high-quality of life we enjoy. There are no daily trips to the town well to gather water; water is simply delivered to our homes and is available every time we turn on a faucet. Most measures of a successful society (low mortality rates, economic growth and diversity, productivity, and public safety) are in some way related to access to safe water.

This week, as you use your tap water, MPS asks you to think about what a marvel it is to have this resource available, and we ask you celebrate what only tap water can deliver.

For more information about your tap water, visit www.drinktap.org. Also, check out the Drinking Water Week page on mpsutility.com ... ... Happy Drinking Water Week!

Posted by: MPS Communications Director, Doug Rogness