Cedar Rapids Today

Belle Plaine City staff and officials have been working to improve various aspects of their water system.

Near the end of its April 5 meeting, the Belle Plaine City Council heard from City administrator Steve Beck, who gave an update on several items regarding their water system and facilities in the city. He reported that their wells are holding steady, and he has been receiving more information on grants for wetland restoration projects at their well fields. 

Beck brought up a quote for a production test well—which would be an additional step beyond analyzing the dirt makeup in the field to see how they would need to dig, as well as test the water from the samples to examine the quality level and how it might be used by the city. The production test well would be drilled into the well field south of Well #4 so they could determine gallons per minute and know both quality and quantity. 

"I think that this is our next step," he said in the meeting. "This is our best next step to do this and see what kind of quality we get and what kind of quantity we can get out of there. It's a trend that from where Well 5 was—the northernmost—to Well 4, the water quality increases through that formation the farther south you go. So that's why, you know, the council was really thinking ahead a long time ago when we bought that land with the express purpose of putting wells out there. If this all goes well, there are if we have an issue with this, we have some other alternative spots out there."

Beck gave the information as a heads-up because approval for the project would be on an agenda in an upcoming meeting. Councilmembers asked him questions, including whether or not there were any plans or preparations for if a train derailment were to occur in the area. Beck noted that while some types of derailment would be devastating no matter what, they did have plans that were up to date, and there were also several cheap and easy mitigation efforts. Additionally, he said they were lucky because the water movement would be in their favor if some disaster were to occur. Furthermore, creating and restoring the wetland in the area would be even better as that is nature’s water filter. 

Beck also reported that the Public Works Department's efforts to find and stop the leaks along their lines have resulted in the best condition of pumping rates they have ever had in Belle Plaine. There are currently a few very small leaks that they will be repairing in the future. The amount of water they move each day has decreased, meaning their reserve water in the tower could last them more than three days instead of formerly just a day and a half. But there are still some other ideas for improving the water system, including an additional route into town.