Robbinsdale Considers New Water Treatment Plant

Robbinsdale residents could get a new water treatment facility. However, it’s a costly proposition and several things would have to fall into place before it could happen.

The city currently has three water treatment facilities, which could be replaced by one new facility. Officials are considering the idea because the infrastructure and technology at the existing facilities are more than 60 years old.

City staff have studied three proposals aimed at improving the city’s water system. They included tapping into the city of Minneapolis and renting water from that city. Another option is rehabbing the existing water facilities. The third would build a brand new facility with an estimated cost of roughly $16 million.

“Based on the results from the report I’ve seen so far, the most feasible and cost effective option is to construct a new treatment plant in a centralized location,” said Richard McCoy, Robbinsdale’s public works director.

A vacant piece of land near Lee Park is where Robbinsdale would build the new water treatment facility. Details still need to be worked it, but officials say they would have to build a new water tower to replace the one on Hubbard Avenue.

Before anything can happen, the city council would have to give its stamp of approval. The Robbinsdale City Council plans to discuss the matter Tuesday night, May 1. If approval were to happen, major infrastructure changes would take place.

“We have to replace the wells that we’re taking out of service. So, we’ll have to have some new wells. We have to build a new treatment plant, we have to decommission the other treatment plants and remove the buildings,” said McCoy.

If the council approves the plan, then city staff would apply to get low interest loans from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority.

Robbinsdale