The Shakopee water system is supposed to provide safe, clean drinking water to the residents and businesses in Shakopee.  The city's source of drinking water comes from groundwater, which soaks into the soil from rain and snow and moves downward to fill cracks and other openings in beds of rock and sand, known as aquifers.

Envision Shakopee, the city's 2040 Comprehensive Plan, calls for the protection of the city's water system.

Water is sent to customers from public wells that have been drilled into these aquifers throughout the city.

By limiting private wells to areas that are not currently served by the water system, the city is protecting its residents and businesses by providing water through its public well system. Limited access to the groundwater through wells within the service area protects the aquifer by minimizing opportunities for that area's groundwater being drawn down and also from possible contamination from other wells being drilled.

Existing wells within the service area in operation prior to adoption and publication of this Ordinance would be allowed to remain in use.