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2/22/2018 Council proposes additional policies for wastewater reuse - Metropolitan Council <br />maximum 0.75% of total annual municipal wastewater charges, approximately $1.65 million per year or $1 per residential equivalent per <br />year. <br />Evaluating environmental and economic benefits of a wastewater reuse project <br />Under Alternative 2, the Council would evaluate, for <br />any proposed project, the regional environmental and <br />economic benefits based on whether it: <br />• Increases the region's wastewater reuse <br />capability, <br />• Fosters regional environmental sustainability, <br />and <br />• Fosters economic growth for a prosperous <br />region (creates jobs and/or adds uniquely to the <br />region's industrial/business portfolio) that would <br />not happen without reclaimed water. <br />In addition, the Council would hold a public hearing to <br />obtain public input prior to a final determination on <br />regional benefit and regional cost share. <br />At the Council's East Bethel Water Reclamation Facility, <br />wastewater is treated to a high enough standard that it can be <br />reused to recharge shallow groundwater. <br />Evaluating benefits to the regional wastewater system of a wastewater reuse <br />project <br />Under Alternative 3, a regional cost share would be evaluated only for whether a reuse project would benefit the regional <br />wastewater system. For example: <br />1. The regional system is built to serve long-term growth in a sub -regional service area, and the Department of <br />Natural Resources has stated that issuance of a water appropriation permit would involve a complex and <br />protracted process due to concerns about the area's long-term water supply, and/or <br />2. The project reduces the Council's surface water discharge, delaying capital improvements to meet more stringent <br />regulatory requirements. <br />As in Alternative 2, the Council would hold a public hearing to obtain public input prior to a final determination on regional <br />benefit and regional cost share. <br />Alternative Wastewater Reuse Alternative Policy Amendments (pdo <br />2017 Wastewater Reuse Policy Task Force Report <br />Current wastewater reuse policies <br />In addition to the broad encouragement of wastewater reuse in Thrive MSP 2040, the current 2040 Water Resources Policy <br />Plan also addresses wastewater reuse. The plan encourages investments "when justified by the benefits for supplementing <br />groundwater and surface water as sources of nonpotable water to support regional growth and maintain water quality." <br />Posted In: Wastewater & Water <br />Tags: Wastewater, reuse, Wastewater Reuse Task Force <br />https:llmetrocouncii.org/News-EventsM/astewater-Water/Newsletters/Council-proposes-additional-policies-for-wastewate.aspx 2/2 <br />