The Metropolitan Council has appointed a Wastewater Reuse Task Force to review the Council’s existing wastewater reuse policies and recommend clarifications needed to respond to opportunities for wastewater reuse.
Wastewater reuse means using treated wastewater for nonpotable functions like irrigation, industrial cooling and toilet flushing. Reusing wastewater has the potential to reduce the use of groundwater for nonpotable purposes.
City representatives named to task force
The 12-member task force will include public works, engineering and utility staff from 10 customer communities in the regional wastewater treatment system and a representative from Metro Cities. Council Member Sandy Rummel will chair the task force. Members include:
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Mary Hurliman, Deputy Director of Public Works, Bloomington
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Jennifer Leavitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer, Cottage Grove
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Jon Eaton, Superintendent of Utilities, Eagan
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Bryan Bear, City Administrator, Hugo
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Chris Petree, Public Works Director, Lakeville
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Michael Thompson, Public Works Director, Maplewood
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Steven Huser, Government Relations Specialist, Metro Cities
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Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator, Ramsey
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Beverly Farraher, Public Works Operations Manager, Saint Paul
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Debra Heiser, Engineering Director, St. Louis Park
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Mark Graham, City Engineer/Public Services Director, Vadnais Heights
The Council’s Environmental Services division has received expressions of interest in wastewater reuse that raise policy-related issues for which guidance is needed. These issues include determining the regional benefit of the reuse, financial aspects, potential partnerships, and more.
Council policies support wastewater reuse
Thrive MSP 2040 supports the Council’s development of wastewater reuse where economically feasible to promote sustainable water resources.
Read about existing wastewater reuse policy in the 2040 Water Resources Policy Plan.
Stakeholder input from the business community, regulatory agencies and nonprofit groups will be obtained in a panel-type format. It is expected that the task force will meet four times starting in the spring through summer of 2017.