Partnering with Communities

Strengthening partnerships to achieve regional goals 

We partnered with customer communities, agencies, and water partners to help us tackle complex challenges and advance our mission. Together, we are building solutions that protect our environment and serve our communities.

The Met Council engaged local water professionals to listen to water concerns and co-create policies and actions, including the 2050 Water Policy Plan. Our Water Advisory Group, consisting of 21 city and watershed staff with expertise in wastewater, water supply, surface water, and stormwater management, held 11 meetings between 2021 and 2024. They worked collaboratively to develop innovative, cross-sector policies that deliver multiple benefits.
Through 23 engagement sessions, our subregional engagement process solicited local input to develop the Metro Area Water Supply Plan, which will guide the development of sustainable water supplies for the region. More than 150 people participated, representing water supply, watershed management, public health, commercial and industrial sectors, land use and community development.

The Met Council finalized the pollutant management plan for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as part of a continued partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to identify and reduce PFAS in the environment. Following influent testing studies, the Blue Lake Water Resource Recovery Facility in Shakopee was designated by the MPCA as a high priority facility because of PFAS originating from the Blue Lake service area.
In November 2024, our Industrial Waste and Pollution Prevention team met with all permitted industrial users in the Blue Lake service area to provide an update on our source identification and reduction work.
In 2025, source identification work will expand to additional service areas. The Industrial Waste and Pollution Prevention team plans to conduct more sampling from industrial, residential, and commercial sources, and study the carpet cleaning industry. PFAS are commonly used to make carpet and fabrics stain and water-resistant. The data will be used to develop best management practices to help industrial waste customers better manage their wastewater. We will also begin sampling PFAS at our permitted significant industrial user facilities over the next two years. Our PFAS webpage provides information for industries and residents to better understand and reduce PFAS in the environment.

Wild rice grows in numerous lakes and rivers in Minnesota, including the lakes connected to the Mississippi River as well as floodplain lakes along the Minnesota River. Excess levels of sulfate, which is a mineral that naturally occurs in water but can also come from industrial processes, has the potential to hinder the growth of wild rice.
We have increased monitoring to support the study of wild rice growth in our region. Our teams conducted an analysis to gain a better understanding of sulfate concentrations in regional rivers and tributaries, changes in concentration over time, and relative contributions from a selection of sources. The goals include protecting wild rice habitats, understanding sulfate impacts and dynamics in the region, and informing future steps in monitoring, assessment, planning, and collaboration with partners such as the Prairie Island Indian Community. 

Engaging communities to increase awareness of wastewater treatment

Metropolitan Council staff engaged with communities and partner organizations to raise awareness of how water moves through our region and is managed and treated to ensure clean water.

To make the Metropolitan Water Resource Recovery Facility accessible to everyone, the Met Council created a video that walks viewers through each step of the water cleaning process, giving them an understanding of what happens to used water after it leaves their home or business. The Metro facility operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to protect our region’s water and provide clean water for future generations. It is the largest wastewater treatment facility in Minnesota, processing more than half of the wastewater in the Twin Cities region before returning clean water to the Mississippi River.

The Met Council hosted a multi-sensory exhibit at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair. Throughout the 13 days of the exhibit, staff engaged fairgoers in educational activities about the science and impact of wastewater treatment and resource recovery. The exhibit was part of the Eco Experience, a collaboration between the Minnesota State Fair, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and more than 150 organizations.

The Met Council published its 2024 report on residential wastewater rates. Our region’s average wastewater services retail rate is 36% lower than that of our peer group, according to data from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). Because we provide cost-effective wastewater management, retail wastewater services rates (city rates, which include our wholesale charges) in the Twin Cities region are competitive, making the region more affordable than other metropolitan areas.

Staff gathered feedback from local communities and partner agencies to understand what information would be most valuable and actionable. These conversations helped ensure the biennial report reflects customer needs, offers relevant context, and supports decision-making for communities we serve. The biennial review of wastewater rates charged by our customer communities collects and provides the data to NACWA for national benchmarking, then synthesizes the national data to assess the financial impact of local wastewater costs on households.

Ensuring equitable access and affordability of water resources

Through innovative programs, collaborative efforts, and equitable policies, the Met Council is committed to ensuring environmental sustainability and the availability of safe, affordable water for future generations.

Met Council staff partnered with researchers at the University of Minnesota to identify resident values that can inform equitable water policy, planning, and management, and can guide approaches for fair and just decision-making. More than 1,000 responses were collected at 14 community events, with participants self-identifying as 67% non-white, 55% female, and 47% renters. This research on diverse water perspectives shows that protecting water for public health, the environment, and future generations is a top priority, and that residents have varying levels of trust in water agencies and service providers.

Through our 2024 Private Property Inflow and Infiltration Grant Program, 21 eligible municipalities received funding to provide grants to private property owners or contractors. The grants will help fund repairs to prevent clear water from entering the wastewater treatment system. This grant program is available to municipalities in the region that the Met Council has designated as excessive inflow and infiltration contributors, or those that have had a measurable flow rate within 20% of the permitted flow limit. The program allocates $1.5 million in wastewater revenue, with grant awards ranging from $25,000 to $230,000. Reducing inflow and infiltration into the regional wastewater system improves system operations. 

In 2024, the Met Council was recognized with the Excellence Award in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products from WaterSense, an Environmental Protection Agency-sponsored program dedicated to promoting water-efficient products and practices. In 2024, a total 1,128 toilets; 549 irrigation controllers; 172 spray sprinkler bodies; 14 showerheads; 800 clothes washers; and 499 dishwashers were replaced in homes across the region. Additionally, 10 irrigation system audits were conducted by WaterSense-approved professionals. By promoting WaterSense products, we help residents and businesses make decisions that support water efficiency. The estimated total water savings from these efforts is approximately 27 million gallons annually, reinforcing our commitment to environmental sustainability.