City of Perham Minnesota

Utilities

Billing and Service Policies

Water

Meter size:	Base Rate (does not include water use):
5/8"	$3.50
3/4"	$5.25
1"	$8.75
1.5"	$17.50
2"	$28.00
3"	$56.00
4"	$87.50
6"	$175.00
Water usage = $.015 per cubic ft. up to 750 cubic ft. and $.0075 per cubic ft. for 751cubic ft. and above. Please call (218)346-4455 to confirm rates.

The Public Works Department maintains the City’s water system. The system has five wells from which to pump water. The wells vary in depth from 80-105 feet and are located in three different areas of town. The newest well is located in Arvig Park off of County Road #8 north. This well was put online in 2000. The two oldest wells are located in the central area of town near the public library. The remaining two wells are located on the south side of town by Heart of the Lakes Elementary School on 2^nd Ave. SW. These wells are also fairly new

The system has one water tower on the south side of town by Heart of the Lakes Elementary School on 2^nd Ave. SW and Coney St. The tower holds 500,000 gallons of water when full. The system has over 21 miles of water mains varying in size from two inch to twelve inch. There are roughly 200 fire hydrants on the system. The average flow through the system in the winter months runs around 800,000 gallons a day. In the summer months the flow will run around 1,300,000 gallons per day.

The water is treated with chlorine and fluoride at each well house. This is required by the Minnesota State Department of Health. Fluoride level is maintained between 0.7mg/L and 1.5mg/L.

The City of Perham takes many precautions to ensure that residents have safe drinking water. The City's drinking water supplies are monitored and tested on a regular basis to make sure that they meet State and Federal Safe Drinking Water Standards. The City tests its water supplies three times a month to measure total coliform bacteria and nitrates. Independent testing laboratories certified by the State of Minnesota perform these tests. The test results are submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health. The Minnesota Department of Health independently tests our water supplies periodically to verify results. In addition to nitrates and coliform, the Department of Health tests for fluoride, radon, and barium. The results of these tests are provided to the City. Every fours years we test our water for lead and copper. These tests are taken from private homes and businesses at various locations in town.

The City, in compliance with the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act, publishes a Consumer Confidence Report annually in June or July in the Perham Enterprise Bulletin Our first report was published in 1998. Additional copies of the report are available at the City Office and a copy may be viewed at the Perham Area Public library. The report notes any violations of the Safe Drinking Water Standards. The City of Perham did not exceed any of the Safe Drinking Water Standards in 1998 or 2000.

The City of Perham Public Works Department flushes city water lines three times a year, in April, July, and October, as a part of ongoing water line maintenance. During these periods, water is more likely to have a brown tinge to it; however, the water should return to normal within a couple of days. Notice of water line flushing is given in the Perham Enterprise Bulletin or in the monthly city utility billing, but is often scheduled in the last half of the month. As a result of the flushing, you may notice particles or discolored water for a short duration in you household faucets. If this occurs, run your water for a few minutes and it should clear up. For information on laundry stain removal caused by occasional rust in the water, click here.

The City of Perham is an equal opportunity provider.

Waste Water

Current Sewer Rates (effective 1/1/05)
For residential or small business: $5.25 base rate + .013 per cubic ft. Please call (218)346-4455 for additional rates or to confirm rates.

The Public Works Department maintains the City’s Wastewater system. The system has six lift stations throughout the city. Five of these are located at various areas in the city to pump the wastewater to the main lift station through 18 miles of sanitary sewer lines. These five lift stations are located are the following areas: the Pamida store, across the street from the VFW, the Barrel O’ Fun warehouse, in the Westwind Addition, and in the East park addition. The remaining lift station is located at the East Otter Tail County Fairgrounds.

The main lift station pumps the wastewater to the pond on the south side of the Highway #10. The pond system consists of five ponds. Two ponds are the primary ponds that take the wastewater first. The three secondary ponds hold the wastewater before it is pumped onto cropland. There are four crop sites set up with irrigation systems to handle this.

We test the wastewater three times a month to make sure that treatments are adequate. We also test wastewater coming from various industries in town. The sanitary sewer lines are cleaned yearly. The lift stations are checked on a regular basis for correct operation.

The City of Perham is an equal opportunity provider.

Perham Resource Recovery Facility

The Perham Resource Recovery Facility is a waste incinerator that provides the community of Perham and surrounding counties with a clean alternative to land-filling their municipal solid waste. Over the course of the year this facility will process approximately 36,000 tons of waste producing steam and electricity in the process. The service are includes Otter Tail and Wadena Counties and Tri-County Solid Waste Commission. The Facility is owned by the City of Perham. For additional information call 218-346-4455.

The City of Perham is an equal opportunity provider.

Recycling Services

Current Recycling pickup rates:
Normal Residential: $4.70 per month.

We encourage every household to become involved in helping find ways to reduce our garbage. Everything you recycle counts! As you develop a routine in your daily life, you’ll discover that it is easy to reduce you garbage volume, and thus the dollars spent on garbage hauling, by 50% or more.

Recycling pickup is billed on your City utility bill. The current charge for all services listed below is $4.00 monthly. You may have this charge waived if you qualify as low income under HUD guidelines. Waiver forms are available at the City Office at 125 2^nd Ave. NE.

Steve’s Sanitation picks up recycling and yard waste according to the following schedule. This schedule coincides with your garbage pickup. If you do not have a large, blue, City of Perham recycling tub at your residence, please call Steve at (218)346-4834.

Regular Recycling Pickup: Thursday (south of the railroad). Beginning at 8:00am. Friday (north of the railroad).
Yard Waste Pickup: Wednesdays, April 1-October 31
Branches, Brush: Last Wednesday of month, April 1-Oct. 31. Branches must by in lengths no more than 4 feet long and bundled.
Materials that are recycled in Perham: Aluminum cans, tin cans, glass, plastic bottles (marked 1,2,or 3), newspapers, other paper, and corrugated cardboard.

Garbage Pickup

The City of Perham currently has two licensed garbage haulers. They are Steve’s Sanitation (218) 346-4834 and Northern Waste Systems of Detroit Lakes (218)847-7219. Garbage bags for each hauler are available in the local grocery stores. If you are a new resident, you must choose one of the haulers and call them to be added to their route.


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