Elysian seeks state aid to build water treatment plant - Mankato Free Press

ELYSIAN — Elysian's population of 708 residents never before had to worry about a water treatment facility.

That changed over the past few years as radium, iron and manganese levels have risen in the city's main water well. Now, Elysian officials seek about $3.5 million in state funding to build a water treatment plant.

"To me, this is probably the most important thing that the city has right now," Mayor Tom McBroom told state senators Tuesday morning inside Elysian City Hall. "To take care of our citizens because we just don't have the right amount of drinking water to make it safe for them."

McBroom told members of the Senate Capital Investment Committee area households pay an average of $36 a month in water bills. Without state aid to help pay for a new $7 million plant, those bills could skyrocket to more than $120 a month. And even with state infrastructure dollars, monthly water usage bills will likely creep up to a $65 average.

"It's a big pill to swallow, but (residents) understand what we need for safe drinking water," McBroom said. "The only way we can get that, short of just drinking bottled water all the time, is this treatment plant."

City officials plan to pay for the project using state infrastructure dollars, about $1.9 million in federal water infrastructure funds, and about $1.6 million from city rates. The new plant would address bacteria and water safety issues while allowing the city to use more than one well for its water supply.

Committee members...



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