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LONG-TERM ACTIONS (5 YEARS AND BEYOND�: INFRASTRUCTURE INTENT Maintain systems of infrastructure, including municipal sanitary sewer, individual sewage treatment systems, municipal water supply, individual wells, storm sewer, electricity, natural gas and advanced telecommunications that provide,over multiple life-cycles,for a prosperous local economy,a healthy environment and a high standard of living. BACKGROUND The City is serviced by municipal, corporate and individually owned utility systems, all filling a needed role in supporting life and economic activity in the City of Pequot Lakes. The City operates a municipal water system.The system serves the downtown area,the business park and some residential areas within close proximity. The City recently constructed a new treatment facility that provides for advanced treatment of groundwater. A new tower was also recently constructed adding capacity and providing increased fire protection to the system. It is projected that there should be no capacity problems with the municipal water system for the foreseeable future. There are some minor issues with the water system that need to be addressed. Old, leaking curb stops create losses in the system that are difficult to track. Aithough larger pipes have been added south of downtown, flow under Highway 371 is restricted by small pipes,reducing the effectiveness of the fire protection.While most water meters are auto-read, there are a few large users that still must be manually read. A meter deposit program is helping to defray the costs in upgrading the metering system. Residents outside of the reach of the water utility obtain their water from individual wells. It is not known exactly how many of these are shallow wells, although it is widely believed to be a significant percentage. The aquifer is unconfined and therefore there exists a high potential for contamination.Some contamination of the groundwater has been detected at the sewage treatment facility. The City operates a municipal sanitary sewer system.The system contains only five lift stations, all of which have been recently upgraded. Sewage is treated in an aerated pond system with the effluent being ground applied through spray irrigation. The ponds are currently operating at roughly 2/3rds of their capacity, with flows being relatively stable month to month. The clay liner in the ponds were replaced with a plastic liner. Along with a modified approach to the spray irrigation system, this improvement appears to have successfully addressed groundwater contamination concerns. Individuals not serviced by the municipal sanitary sewer system treat their sewage through individual systems. New state regulations have addressed some concerns over poorly maintained systems, although problems still loom large,especially on lakeshores where the characteristics of seasonal usage are not compatible with standard on-site treatment. The Cullen Lakes Association recently completed, with Township and City assistance, an Comprehensive Plan Update—February 2013 42 � P a g e