Water woes continue

A new well at the Blue Mounds State Park remains contaminated, even after repeated chlorination, according to state officials.
“The drinking water situation at Blue Mounds State Park continues to be a challenge and we are committed to resolving it,” wrote DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr in a Sept. 17 letter.
One solution may be a connection to Rock County Rural Water for roughly $261,000. That’s the estimated cost if the park signs on as part of Rural Water’s current expansion.
Only 10 miles of pipe remains to be installed, and Rock County Commissioners are concerned that if the state park decides to connect at a later time, it would cost the park more.
Rural Water Director Brent Hoffmann said he has been working with state DNR officials about completing a waterline to the state park. Currently the line is three miles from park property.
Hoffmann said he has shared engineering plans and has had additional engineering studies completed for the park. But Hoffmann said the Rural Water board has directed him to stop investing resources unless the park commits.
“We don’t want to add anymore of our engineering costs working with somebody who is not signed up,” Hoffmann said.
Rural Water, the county and DNR will meet later this month to decide a course of action.
The Rural Water expansion project is expected to be completed this fall.
 
Visitors to the park up
60 percent over last year
The Blue Mounds State Park was closed for a month this spring due to contaminated water, but Park Manager Chris Ingebretsen said attendance is up 60 percent over last year.
In June 2014 the park was closed for several weeks after flooding damaged the park’s dam spillway, allowing its lake to drain.
Despite the lack of a swimming area, Ingebretsen said attendance has exceeded expectations as campers have enjoyed the hiking trails and viewing the bison herd. Only during hot days did Ingebretsen see a decline in visitor numbers.
Currently visitors receive bottled water from the park office and campers are able to fill their water reservoirs in the city of Luverne.
Ingebretsen said the state health officials have allowed showers to be taken at the park as long as its well water is chlorinated.
While not ideal, he said the park would have to seek a more permanent solution in the future.