Water Utility
Water Conservation Notice
As part of the State Mandated Water Conservation Plan and to insure adequate water supply for water protection, the Chaska Water Department has implemented several water conservation programs.
Non-essential watering
Non-essential watering is prohibited from Noon - 4:00 p.m. from May 1 to September 30.
Non-essential watering includes:
- Lawn and garden sprinkling
- Car washing
- Other non-potable uses
Odd-even lawn-watering
From May 1 - September 30, Chaska residents are required to limit lawn sprinkling and other non-essential water use based on your address and the calendar day of the month.
If your address ends in an odd number, you must limit your lawn sprinkling to odd-numbered calendar days.
If your address ends in an even number, you must limit your lawn sprinkling to even-numbered calendar days.
Compliance
These programs greatly reduces the city's peak water demand during the heavy usage months between May 1 - September 30.
Compliance with this ordinance is mandatory. Failure to comply may result in a $100 fine and/or termination of water service. New seed or sod that is not established is exempt for a 14-day period.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this ordinance, please feel free to call the Water Department at 952-448-4335. Thank you for your cooperation!
System Overview
The Water & Sewer Department maintains
- 150 miles of water main pipe
- 1,500 hydrants
- 3,500 valves
- 16 pressure reducing stations
- 2 booster stations
- 3 storage tanks
- A 12.6 MGD (Million Gallon per Day) Water Treatment Plant.
Maintenance of this infrastructure is critical to Chaska's residents insuring the highest quality drinking water is delivered to its customers.
Water Sources
Chaska has six ground water wells that pump water from wells that are 330-feet to 817-feet deep. Water is drawn from the following aquifers:
- Mt. Simon / Hinkley
- Tunnel City / Wonewoc
- Jordan
- Glacial Drift
Water Treatment & Storage
Chaska has a water treatment plant that is capable of treating 12.6 million gallons per day, for iron and manganese removal to only trace levels by gravity filtration.
Sodium hypochlorite is used to disinfect the water for bacteria and fluoride is added to enhance tooth protection, as required by state and federal law.
Water is pumped to the distribution system after treatment and is stored in four elevated towers that have the capacity to hold four million gallons.
Wellhead Protection Plan
The City of Chaska has completed the development of our Wellhead Protection Plan. This plan is designed to protect the groundwater aquifers that supply water to the Chaska municipal drinking water wells. The plan identifies potential sources of contamination that could pollute local groundwater wells and enter the community's water supply. The ultimate goal is to ensure that Chaska continues to provide its residents with a safe and abundant supply of clean drinking water for generations to come.
Wells can become polluted when harmful substances get into the groundwater. Water from these wells can become dangerous to drink when the level of pollution rises above health standards. Fortunately, the City of Chaska's water supply currently exceeds all State and Federal drinking water standards. The City regularly samples the water from their wells and provides an annual Water Quality Report to its residents. Read the Water Quality Report (PDF).
Residents can help implement the Wellhead Protection Plan by doing the following:
- Identify land uses and potential sources of contamination on your property. These include wells, tanks, septic systems, hazardous wastes, etc.)
- Make sure any potential sources of contamination under your control meet local, state, and federal regulations
- Seal any unused wells on your property according to the Minnesota Well Code. Visit the Minnesota Department of Health website for more information.
- Owners of active wells should refer to the Well Management Program.
- Use hazardous products only as directed and dispose of them properly when no longer needed. Visit the Carver County Environmental Center website for more information on handling and disposing of wastes.
- Practice proper turf management techniques and avoid over-fertilization of your lawns and gardens. Visit the University of Minnesota Extension website for more information.
- Report spills or illegal dumping of hazardous wastes, fuels, or chemicals to law enforcement.
If you wish to view a copy of the Wellhead Protection Plan, please contact the Water and Sewer Department at (952) 448-4335.
Common Service Problems
Check your toilets for leaks. Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.
Check your water meter for hidden leaks. Read the house water meter before and after a 2-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
Check your faucets and pipes for leaks. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
If the City's Metering System detects consumption for four consecutive days, we will notify customers.
Water Service Line Coverage Solicitations
Companies will be contacting you via postal mail to inform you of your service line maintenance responsibilities. The City of Chaska is not affiliated with any of these companies or any other private water service maintenance providers.