Stormwater Reuse Demonstration Project
The Metropolitan Council and City of Saint Paul cooperated on a rainwater harvesting and reuse system in downtown Saint Paul. Rainwater from the northern half (2 acres) of the roof at the new Metro Transit Green Line Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) is captured using a modified version of the existing OMF rainwater collection system. The existing collection system was re-designed to convey rainwater to the new Lowertown Ballpark, home of the Saint Paul Saints, where uses include ball field irrigation and toilet flushing. In addition to reducing potable water use at the stadium, this project diverts hundreds of thousands of gallons of water annually that would otherwise drain to the Mississippi River.
(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.
The Metropolitan Council proposes to deliver two separate and related pieces of this project:• Participation in a project with the City of Saint Paul for the design and construction of the stadium rainwater reuse system• The work required to convey rainwater from the northern half of the OMF roof to the stadiumProposed outcomes:• The feasibility of potential solutions to rebalance regional water use is assessed• Potable water use at the stadium will be reduced• Hundreds of thousands of Lowertown Ballpark visitors will learn about stormwater reuse• Stormwater discharge to the Mississippi River will be reduced
Outcomes will be reported at project completion.
(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.
See 2015 Fiscal Year Proposed Measurable Outcomes.
• Potable water use at the stadium is reduced by approximately 450,000 gallons per year
• Supported the adoption of rainwater harvesting components to the plumbing code
• Hundreds of thousands of CHS Field visitors can learn about rainwater harvesting
• Stormwater discharge to the Mississippi River is reduced