TOWER-SOUDAN- The seven-plus inches of rain that fell in Tower and Soudan June 18 created headaches for many area residents, as the storm water system could not keep up with the hours of intense rainfall.
“It was too much of an influx,” said Matt Tuchel, who oversees the joint water and wastewater systems.
Total flows through the wastewater system on June 18 and 19 totaled 1.5 million gallons. Normally, the system would handle about 200,000 gallons in two days, Tuchel said.
“So, 1.3 million gallons was rainwater.”
“We are not designed to take in that much rain at one time,” Tuchel said. “If this happens again, we will have to look at upgrading our system.”
Flooding did the most damage on North Second and Third streets in Tower, where water flowing down the steep forested hill met up with storm sewers already overwhelmed.
One residence just north of the elementary school reported a substantial stream of water flowing right through their garage, which faced the North Third St. alley. Several homes in that area reported three-plus feet of water in basements, destroying water heaters, laundry machines, and furnaces, along with flooring and personal items. Flooding was also a problem for the apartments on the north side of Tower.
In Soudan, the worst damage was on South Street, but many other families reported flooding, including Tuchel, whose lower-level bedroom was flooded, with flooring and furniture destroyed. The Vermilion Park Inn had floodwater in their lower level, damaging their laundry.
The East Two River overflowed its banks, and water reached the bottom of the new bridge by the old Iron Ore Bar and overflowed into the park. The harbor overflowed its banks in places, and the new parking lot at the kayak landing was almost half under water. Flooding at Hoodoo Point Campground damaged docks.
The newly-repaved section of the Mesabi Trail in Tower appeared to be in good condition, with only some minor gravel damage where the East Two River had washed over the trail by the large culverts where the river flows underneath the trail.
The bridge on the end of South Third Street, which provides access to the Zollar residence, was underwater for at least three days. The trail to the Ancient Cedars Trail was actually swimmable, and the boardwalk may need some minor repairs, but was reported to be in mostly decent condition.
While some flooding was due to the overloaded stormwater and sewer system, most was simply rainwater, Tuchel said.
“We fared better than I expected,” said Tuchel, noting there was no damage to the overall infrastructure system. “I know this isn’t a relief for those whose homes had flooding. But it could have been worse.”
On a positive note, Tuchel met with contractors for the water filtration plant project on June 17, and the main contractor, Lakehead Construction, is able to move up the planned rehabilitation project on the water wells. The main well’s pumping system had failed a couple of weeks ago. This means the repairs will be covered under the planned project. The project did include replacing the aging pumps and electrical components in the well and back up well. Work on the main part of the project will begin in July and will take about a year to complete.
“Lakehead has been very accommodating,” Tuchel said.
The backup well, which has been supplying water since the main well broke down, is continuing to meet the need, Tuchel said.