Excelsior Wastewater Spill

Water quality test results for Galpin Lake, in Excelsior, taken on Thursday, June 1, show that elevated bacteria levels from a wastewater spill on May 22 have decreased. The entire lake is now well within acceptable levels for public contact with the water. Warning signage around Galpin Lake is being removed.

Residents should still avoid the stormwater pond on the northwest corner of the intersection of Highway 7 and Oak Street. Warning signage for this pond will be removed when water quality testing shows bacteria levels are acceptable.

Water quality test results for Galpin Lake, on Saturday, May 27, show that elevated bacteria levels from a wastewater spill on May 22 have decreased. Most of the lake is now well within acceptable levels for public contact with the water.

Residents should still avoid the area near the culvert along the northwest lakeshore across from the corner of Highway 7 and Oak Street. Warning signage will be removed when water quality testing shows bacteria levels are acceptable

Metropolitan Council Environmental Services crews are preparing to remove and replace the top foot of soil in the 1,600-square-foot impacted area. Additionally, contractors are preparing to pump the pond across Oak Street from the location of the spill.

Water quality crews tested nearby bodies of water and have installed signage warning the public “Do Not Enter Water/Contains Raw Sewage/No Fishing/No Swimming” around affected areas. Some wastewater was detected in the northwest bay of Galpin Lake, between Elm Place and Galpin Lake Road, though the oxygen levels that the fish in the lake depend on remain high. The lake and pond will be tested regularly until water quality results are at an acceptable level.

Crews from the Metropolitan Council’s Environmental Services division arrived onsite with flow management equipment to contain the spill the morning of May 22. By the afternoon, contractors had repaired the broken line. Fencing is being placed to keep children from the nearby Excelsior Elementary school from entering the work area.

Water quality crews tested nearby bodies of water and have installed signage warning the public “Do Not Enter Water/Contains Raw Sewage/No Fishing/No Swimming” around affected areas. A minimal amount of wastewater was detected in the northwest bay of Galpin Lake, between Elm Place and Galpin Lake Road.