Water Efficiency Grant Program

The Metropolitan Council has been awarded funds from the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to provide grants to communities to support the purchase and installation of products that reduce water use.

Cities and townships served by a municipal water supply system can receive grants between $5,000 and $50,000 to reduce costs for residents, commercial properties, and government facilities that purchase and install replacement water-efficient products. Eligible purchases include toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, irrigation systems, and more.

2025–2026 Equity-Focused Water Efficiency Grant Pilot Program

Applications open on Feb. 19, 2025

These grants will be effective from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. This pilot program, which incorporates equity as a requirement for funding, is based on the overall Water Efficiency Grant Program offered by the Met Council since 2016.

Program goal

The Equity-Focused Water Efficiency Grant Pilot Program supports technical and behavioral changes in underserved and disproportionately burdened communities in order to improve municipal water use efficiency in the metro region.

Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to municipalities that are served by a municipal water supply system.
There is no requirement for municipalities to contribute a local match, and grant programs will operate at no cost to residents.
Grantees will be required to provide estimated water savings achieved through this program for Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment reporting purposes.
Grant monies not used by municipalities can be transferred to other municipalities.

Application materials

Applications are due March 28, 2025

The Met Council has created a map tool of equity priority areas to help communities develop their program criteria.

Key criteria for grant eligibility

Grants are awarded to municipalities for providing rebates or grants to property owners who purchase products labeled WaterSense or ENERGY STAR®.

Applicants must be served by a municipal water supply system
Replacement appliances only; new construction and developments are ineligible
Portion of cost must be paid by the property owner
Funds are for rebates and grants only; consulting and staff time are ineligible
Grant recipients must display the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment logo and Metropolitan Council logo on program-related web pages and other communications

If funds requested exceed funds available, the following criteria will be used to determine the amount granted to a given municipality.

Municipalities with identified water supply issues in the Master Water Supply Plan Community Profiles or Local Water Supply Plans
Ratio of peak monthly water use to winter monthly water use
Average residential per capita water use
Order in which applications are received and until grant funds are completely committed

Local program design

Municipalities are responsible for the design and operation of their rebate or grant program and its details. Met Council grant funds will cover 80% of program costs, with a required 20% local government match. Residents must pay a portion of the cost of any device or water use audit they purchase.

Eligible expenses for 2024-2026

Toilet replacement
Irrigation controller replacement
Irrigation spray sprinkler body replacement
Irrigation system audit
Clothes washing machine replacement
Residential dishwasher replacement
Showerhead replacement

Program outcomes

The Met Council created the water efficiency grant program in 2015 to help growing communities reduce water consumption and future infrastructure costs. The number of grant applicants and recipients has grown over time, as has the funding.

	2015 – 2017	2019 – 2022	2022 – 2024
Grant funding	$500,000 total	$750,000 total	$1,250,000 total ($250,000 for equity pilot project with Saint Paul Regional Water Services)
Participants	19 municipalities	37 municipalities	37 municipalities
Total rebates	$462,243.47	$631,948.62	$652,890.50 (as of Dec. 31, 2023)
Program components	4,510 devices replaced 2,380 toilets 1,190 irrigation controllers 940 clothes washers 4 irrigation system audits	5,683 devices replaced 2,105 toilets 2,127 irrigation controllers 943 clothes washers 508 irrigation spray sprinkler bodies 36 irrigation system audits	5,049 devices replaced 1,652 toilets 1,440 irrigation controllers 992 clothes washers 215 irrigation spray sprinkler bodies 750 residential dishwashers 134 irrigation system audits (as of Dec.31 2023)
Estimated annual water savings	52,000,000 annual gallons saved	96,800,000 annual gallons saved	59,000,000 annual gallons saved (as of Dec.31 2023)