HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. Frozen Water Service Lines ROS�_V10LINT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
UTILITY COMMISSION
Utility Commission Meeting: August 11, 2014
AGENDA ITEM: Frozen Water Service Lines AGENDA SECTION: New
Business
PREPARED BY: Andrew J. Brotzler, PE, Director of Public AGENDA NO. I,
Works / City Engineer
ATTACHMENTS: Map of frozen water service lines APPROVED BY:
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion
ISSUE
The City of Rosemount experienced a record number of frozen water service lines in February and March,
2014. This matter is being brought before the Utility Commission to provide a summary of the situation
and to discuss options for handling this issue in the future.
BACKGROUND
Attached is a location map of the 92 frozen water services that occurred between February 1 and March
31, 2014. The City contracted a private welder to assist with thawing the lines; 88 of the 92 lines were
thawed and returned to service using this method. For the remaining four lines that could not be thawed,
the City was able to connect to a neighbor's water to provide temporary service.
Table 1 includes a breakdown of the City's cost to deal with the frozen water services:
Table 1- Cost Summary
Quantity Unit Cost Amount
Contracted welder (estimate—still waiting for invoice) 88 $400 $35,200
Staff cost to locate curbstop and assist welder, $15,212
including administrative time *
Printing cost for 600 door hangers $ 224
Employee time to pick up and deliver door hangers 23 hours $38/hour $ 874
Plumbing cost to set up temporary service 1 $350 $ 350
Total $51,860
* $15,212 total is based on 312 maintenance hours (including overtime) and 92 administrative hours
City staff recommended that certain residents keep a slow, steady stream of water running until the danger
of freezing or re-freezing had passed. Information was also posted on the website to inform residents
about the risk of frozen water service lines and what steps can be taken to reduce the risk. Residents were
not given a credit on their utility bills for running water as a preventive measure.
G:\UTILITY COMMISSION\UC Information\20140811 UC Frozen Water Lines docx
Table 2 includes a summary of information gathered from other cities regarding their procedures for
dealing with frozen water service lines.
Table 2—Information from other Cities
City Does City Thaw? Utility Bill Credit?
Brooklyn No Residents will be charged for the water
Center used,unless they have been contacted
directly by city staff and received prior
approval for preventive water usage rates.
Burnsville Yes, City will pay for the thaw of water No
services hooked directly to the City
watermain
Eagan No No
Fridley No. City staff can provide information No
about contractors for the resident to call.
Golden Valley Yes. City has assembled its own "pulse- No
jetting"machine to thaw lines. May be 2-
3 day wait due to demand.
Hopkins No. Property owners are responsible for Not stated on website
thawing frozen water in their pipes.
Thawing should be done using a hair
dryer,hot air or water, or steam. The use
of an electric welder is prohibited.
Minnetonka Not stated on website No
St. Paul Yes Yes,if the resident is contacted in a letter
from SPRWS, or their pipe has already
frozen once this season. In those cases, the
resident will not be charged for water used.
SUMMARY
Staff is seeking Utility Commission input to draft a Frozen Water Service Line Policy that can be approved
by City Council before the end of the calendar year. Some items for discussion:
• Should the City pay for thawing frozen water service lines in the future? If so,under what
circumstances?
• Should the City provide credit to residents who run water as a preventive measure? To all
residents? Only to those we send notices to? How should the credit be calculated?
• What type of educational program should be employed? Website notices/alerts? Newsletter
articles? Letters to homes in susceptible areas? Other?
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Water Services AddressGrid U of Mn N
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