Regional Feasibility of Alternative Approaches to Water Sustainability

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$23,304
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$403,182
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$95,060
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Metropolitan Council/HDR
Recipient Type
For-Profit Business/Entity
Local/Regional Government
Status
In Progress
Start Date
December 2013
End Date
June 2015
Activity Type
Technical Assistance
Counties Affected
Anoka
Carver
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Scott
Washington
Anoka
Carver
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Scott
Washington
Project Overview

The Metropolitan Council, in conjunction with HDR Engineering, Inc. consultants, will evaluate a variety of approaches to develop sustainable water supplies across the metro area. Subregional study areas are being selected where multiple communities face potential problems with the long-term sustainability of current water supplies, and where community stakeholders have expressed interest in learning more about sustainable water supply options.

Two to three subregional areas are being considered for evaluation. The first subregional area to be identified includes communities in the southeastern portion of the metro area (Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Lakeville, Farmington, and Hastings). These communities have formed a groundwater workgroup to address the issue of future sustainability, and they have expressed support for a study led by the Council to examine the feasibility of alternative approaches to water supply. Alternatives to be considered include the development of a joint water system to serve multiple communities based on surface water or alternate groundwater sources, the reuse of treated wastewater or stormwater to serve industrial or irrigation customers, and the use of treated wastewater or stormwater to recharge aquifers. Potential second and third subregional study areas are currently being identified to perform similar analyses.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2013, Chapter 137, Art. 2, Sec. 9, Subd. (c)
Appropriation Language

(c) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are for metropolitan regional groundwater planning to achieve water supply reliability and sustainability, including determination of a sustainable regional balance of surface water and groundwater, a feasibility assessment of potential solutions to rebalance regional water use and identify potential solutions to address emerging subregional water supply issues such as the northeast metro, and development of an implementation plan that addresses regional targets and timelines and defines short- and medium-term milestones for achieving the desirable surface water and groundwater regional balance. By January 15, 2014, the commissioner shall submit an interim report on the expenditure of this appropriation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance and policy and the clean water fund.

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$23,304
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$23,304
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
1
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

DELIVERABLES• Identification of subregional study areas and stakeholder participants• Criteria for identifying feasible approaches to sustainable water supply development in different parts of the metro area• Identification of feasible water supply approaches for each study area• An assessment of infrastructure costs and other challenges to the implementation of alternative water supply systems, along with regional benefits• Identification of cost-sharing or financing structures that would promote financial equity within a proposed subregional water system• A plan for implementation of recommended alternatives, including timelines with milestones to achieve water supply sustainability goalsOUTCOMES• Potential solutions to address emerging subregional water supply issues are identified• The feasibility of potential solutions to rebalance regional water use is assessed• Regional targets, milestones, and timelines are identified to achieve a desirable regional balance of surface water and groundwater

Measurable Outcome(s)

Outcomes will be reported at project completion.

Recipient Board Members
Susan Haigh (Chair), Roxanne Smith, Lona Schreiber, Jennifer Munt, Gary Van Eyll, Steve Elkins, James Brimeyer, Gary L. Cunningham, Adam Duininck, Edward Reynoso, John Doan, Sandy Rummel, Harry Melander, Richard Kramer, Jon Commers, Steven T. Chavez, Wendy Wulff
Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2013, Chapter 137, Art. 2, Sec. 9, Subd. (c)
Appropriation Language

(c) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are for metropolitan regional groundwater planning to achieve water supply reliability and sustainability, including determination of a sustainable regional balance of surface water and groundwater, a feasibility assessment of potential solutions to rebalance regional water use and identify potential solutions to address emerging subregional water supply issues such as the northeast metro, and development of an implementation plan that addresses regional targets and timelines and defines short- and medium-term milestones for achieving the desirable surface water and groundwater regional balance. By January 15, 2014, the commissioner shall submit an interim report on the expenditure of this appropriation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance and policy and the clean water fund.

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$403,182
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$403,182
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
1
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

See 2014 Fiscal Year Proposed Measureable Outcomes.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Final outcomes will be reported at project completion.

Recipient Board Members
Adam Duininck (Chair), Katie Rodriguez, Lona Schreiber, Jennifer Munt, Deb Barber, Steve Elkins, Gail Dorfman, Gary L. Cunningham, Cara Letofsky, Edward Reynoso, Marie McCarthy, Sandy Rummel, Harry Melander, Richard Kramer, Jon Commers, Steven T. Chávez and Wendy Wulff
Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2013, Chapter 137, Art. 2, Sec. 9, Subd. (c)
Appropriation Language

(c) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are for metropolitan regional groundwater planning to achieve water supply reliability and sustainability, including determination of a sustainable regional balance of surface water and groundwater, a feasibility assessment of potential solutions to rebalance regional water use and identify potential solutions to address emerging subregional water supply issues such as the northeast metro, and development of an implementation plan that addresses regional targets and timelines and defines short- and medium-term milestones for achieving the desirable surface water and groundwater regional balance. By January 15, 2014, the commissioner shall submit an interim report on the expenditure of this appropriation to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance and policy and the clean water fund.

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$95,060
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$95,060
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
1
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

See 2014 Fiscal Year Proposed Measureable Outcomes.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Outcomes will be reported at project completion.

Project Manager
First Name
John
Last Name
Chlebeck
Organization Name
Metropolitan Council
Phone
(651) 602-1072
Email
john.chlebeck@metc.state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

390 N. Robert Street
St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone
651-602-1000