Excelsior Wastewater Spill - 2023
Galpin Lake is recovering from wastewater spill
May 27, 2023
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 is responding to spill in Excelsior
May 24, 2023
The Metropolitan Council, operator of the regional wastewater collection and treatment system, responded Monday morning, May 22, to an interceptor sewer line break and resulting wastewater spill in Excelsior. The spill was in the northeast corner of Highway 7 and Oak Street, approximately 80 feet to the north of this intersection.
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 that afternoon, contractors had repaired the broken line. Fencing has been placed to keep children from the nearby Excelsior Elementary school from entering the work area.
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services crews are preparing to remove and replace the top foot of soil in the 1600 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.
Continuous updates will be provided as we learn more. More detailed information on this spill will be available here beginning Thursday, May 25. If you have questions, please contact our General Inquiries line at Metropolitan Council Environmental Services at MCES-Inquiries@metc.state.mn.us or 651-602-1269.
May 23, 2023
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.
May 22, 2023
The Metropolitan Council, operator of the regional wastewater collection and treatment system, responded May 22 to an interceptor sewer line break and resulting wastewater spill in Excelsior. The spill was in the northeast corner of Highway 7 and Oak Street, approximately 80 feet to the north of this intersection.
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.