Water Service Connections
As part of the project, the City of Medicine Lake will install a new watermain to provide municipal drinking water. Water service lines will be extended to each property. The service lines will be stubbed out to the property line, and a curb stop or shut-off valve will be installed at the property line. This setup allows for plumbers to connect your property to the service line in the future. This enables a connection without the need for excavation into the street.
The contractor (Veit) and the City inspector (SEH Inc) will meet with property owners to determine where to place the water services and curb stops on each property. Property owners will choose which side of the house they want the future water connection. This will allow the service to be aligned as closely as possible to where the new water line enters the basement. It is recommended to install the curb stop valve in your yard instead of the driveway to prevent any impacts to driveways during snow removal.
The following provides additional details about the water service connections:
Q: When do property owners need to connect to municipal water services?
A: The City recently passed an ordinance which sets forth 3 criteria for connection to City Water:
If your existing well fails
If you sell your house
If you are making major renovations requiring a building permit
Q: What is the process to connect to future municipal water services?
A: The Medicine Lake water system will be linked and maintained by the City of Plymouth. Property owners will need to obtain a permit and water meter from the City of Plymouth Water Department. There will be permit fees charged along with the cost of the meter. The Plymouth Water Department will also inspect the connection to the service lines after it is completed.
Q: Can I keep my well for non-potable use, such as irrigation?
A: Yes, the Minnesota Health Department allows wells for irrigation purposes as long as there is no cross connection between the well water and home domestic water lines.
Q: When will municipal water services be available?
A: An exact date yet has not been identified, but the best assumption is fall of 2024. There are number of steps the contractor has to complete before municipal water is available for property connections. First, the contractor will install the main line. Then it will be tested and approved by the Minnesota Department of Health. Afterwards, the contractor will extend the service lines out to all properties and install the curb stop/shut off valves. The municipal water is available to be connected to homes once these steps are completed.
Please note: While the streets are being reconstructed in 2024, it may be difficult for plumbers to connect homes to the water service lines. It is recommended to wait until street reconstruction is completed. Exceptions can be made for emergency situations (e.g., if a property well fails).
Q: How will I be billed for municipal water services?
A: Water bills will be managed by the City of Plymouth utilities. Property owners will be charged solely on water usage. Water meters are typically read monthly to gather the usage data. Modern day meters are either radio transmitted or internet based so they do not need to access your home to read meters.
Q: How much will it cost property owners to hook up to the City water?
A: There are two components to the cost of service connection.
City of Plymouth permit fees - the current fees are approximately $5,000.00. This fee includes the water meter.
Contractor costs - the contractor range will depend on how far homes are from the watermain. It is estimated that the cost will be approximately $10,000 and $20,000 per home. This cost can be reduced if multiple property owners hire the same contractor or if a property owner signs up for the City-led Contractor Program.
City-led Plumbing Contractor Program
The City is searching for a plumber to complete multiple property service connections in 2025 to obtain a cheaper group rate. The City is currently gauging community interest before hiring a contractor/plumber.
Property owners interested in joining the program should provide their name, email, and address.