Wastewater Treatment

In the Twin Cities region, most homes, businesses, schools, industries, and the other places we work and play are connected to one of the Metropolitan Council's nine wastewater treatment plants through an extensive network of sewer pipes.

Image showing the path used water takes away from homes and businesses into the sewer system to our treatment facilities.

Whenever someone takes a shower, flushes a toilet, or runs a washing machine, the used water is carried through a pipe away from the property into a municipal sanitary sewer pipe. That pipe, in turn, is connected to a regional sewer interceptor, and finally to the wastewater treatment plant.

Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) operates and maintains the regional interceptor system and all nine regional treatment plants.

Award-winning service

MCES provides high-quality, cost-efficient service that protects public health and the environment. Our operations consistently achieve near-perfect compliance with federal and state clean water discharge standards while holding wholesale customer rates well below the national average. We consistently receive state and national awards for excellence in many disciplines.

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