12/28/16
Steps to Sustainable Water Supplies:
A Report on Water Supply Planning Activities
in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
In the land of 10,000 lakes, why should we worry about water
supplies in the Twin Cities region?
AF
T
Over 100 public water suppliers deliver water for commercial, industrial, and
residential uses to 3 million people, drawing from underground sources, the
Mississippi River, and reusable sources Related infographic illustrating municipal
versus other categories of water use
4 extensive aquifers - underground layers of rock, gravel and sand - hold and
transport billions of gallons of water for over two million people. Related
infographic illustrating aquifers

The Mississippi River supplies huge volumes of water for almost a million people.
Related infographic illustrating river flows

Treated stormwater and wastewater also provide water for undrinkable uses like
cooling or irrigation. Related infographic illustrating stormwater from a residence
R

Even so, the region faces water challenges that need attention – and in some
cases, action.
D
In the 1970s and 1980s, the region drew water equally from the Mississippi and from
groundwater. But today, three out of four people in the region use groundwater. That’s
because most of the region’s development expanded to areas away from rivers. Related
infographic illustrating change in groundwater versus surface water over time
With more development, some communities who share aquifers face challenges that
can affect their city budgets, homeowner costs, and economic growth.
Here are some of the problems facing groundwater suppliers in the region:

Groundwater levels have dropped in some areas.

Groundwater contamination has been found in several parts of the region.

Some communities have limited amounts of groundwater and will need
alternative sources to meet increasing demands.
1
12/28/16
The demand for water is increasing
Looking ahead, water demand will increase substantially as the region’s population and
economy grow. At the same time, there are future risks to consider.
By 2040, the region is expected to need 450 million gallons per day - 100 million
gallons more than what was used in 2015. Related infographic comparing current
water use to 2040 water use

Much of the region’s future growth is expected to occur in areas that could have
groundwater shortages. Related infographic illustrating top growing cities
compared to future aquifer decline

Water supplies may be impacted by drought, extreme weather, or contamination.
Related infographic illustrating climate risks
AF
T

We do not have to choose between wise use of our water, on one hand, and healthy
economic growth and quality of life, on the other. We can have both. There are ways
that local water suppliers can make their existing water supply facilities more efficient to
meet future demand.
In the summer months, some communities use over three times more water than
during the winter. Reducing summer use, like irrigation, frees up water for other
uses.

Industrial water use is high in many communities. By using water more efficiently,
industries can also save energy and money. A project supported by the
Minnesota Clean Water Fund shows how making relatively small changes in
operations at only 10 industries could produce potential savings of 80 million
gallons and $360,000 per year.
R

Let’s say the region reduces its average municipal water use from today’s 125
gallons/person/day down to 90 gallons. Our region could grow by almost 800,000
people without increasing water use above today’s levels.
D

Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee
The Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee (MAWSAC) leads an
inclusive, coordinated effort to plan for the “water supply future” of the Twin Cities area.
MAWSAC brings together representatives of organizations – local water suppliers,
cities, counties, state agencies – who know the facts, the issues, and the way forward to
meet the region’s water needs. The resulting collaboration builds knowledge and
support for ways to achieve a dependable, reliable water supply.
2
12/28/16
Created by the Minnesota Legislature in 2005, the 18-member MAWSAC looks at the
big picture of water supply over the long term, building on the capable planning and
investments of local water suppliers. In 2015, legislation expanded the membership of
MAWSAC and created a Technical Advisory Committee to advise MAWSAC.
Water supply issues involve a range of technical fields such as geography, geology,
hydrology, soil science, finance, and engineering. MAWSAC’s Technical Advisory
Committee provides perspective on issues and approaches based on sound science in
these fields.
AF
T
The Metropolitan Council supports both advisory committees with staff assistance and
other resources. The Council is not a supplier of drinking water, nor does it plan to
become one. The Council provides information and planning tools to help communities
secure safe and plentiful drinking water while protecting the region’s water resources.
The 2015 Master Water Supply Plan provides more detail about MAWSAC’s water
supply planning activities. That document is online at: goo.gl/QcTtmY
Before MAWSAC and TAC
 There was no overall master water
supply plan to deal with water supply
issues that cross local boundaries.
A Master Water Supply Plan was developed:
goo.gl/QcTtmY
 Expanded collaboration among agencies, local
governments and water suppliers improves water
supply planning. Work groups bring agencies and
local representatives together to discuss regional
water issues, strengthen communication, and
share ideas.
R
 Local governments did not typically
update their water supply plans at the
same time as their community
comprehensive plans. This meant that
some communities had to spend extra
time or money on adjusting either or
both plans to coordinate them.
After MAWSAC and TAC
D
 There was no tool to evaluate the
cumulative, long-term effects on
groundwater of the region’s many
individual water supply decisions.
 There was no region-wide awareness
of water conservation.
 A common base of technical information supports
better decisions about water supply, such as:
- Regional groundwater models
- Databases and maps of hydrogeology,
groundwater/surface water interactions,
recharge areas
- Feasibility studies of various subregional water
supply approaches
- Analyses of local water billing rates that helps
determine how pricing can make water use
more efficient
- A Stormwater Reuse Guide that promotes
greater use of this water resource
 Support for water efficiency, including:
- A Water Conservation Toolbox
- Grants to communities
- Support for industry through the MN Technical
Assistance Program
3
12/28/16
By supporting local leadership and collaboration, our shared
water supplies will sustain us through the challenges ahead.
Here’s what some community leaders have done and said about their hopes and
their work.
City of Woodbury | Conservation is our way to the future
AF
T
“Woodbury is committed to serving as a regional leader in managing the water supply,”
said Jim Westerman. “We must be responsible stewards of our water. Effective
conservation efforts will be an imperative part of our future success.”
The city’s water conservation campaign includes a combination of efforts to support its
water supply management plan – for example:



Enhanced education and conservation promotion
Review of city operations water use by city operations
Changes to the city’s lawn watering policy
R
Woodbury’s water conservation program is resident and business-friendly. In a pilot
program with the MN Technical Assistance Program, six commercial sites estimated
water and money savings from replacing irrigation controllers. The average yearly
savings was just over a million gallons of water and almost $2,000 per site. Woodbury
also received a Metropolitan Council grant for an incentive program to help reduce
residential water demand by up to 3.8 million gallons each year. For more information,
visit goo.gl/0Fv22W
Cities of Burnsville and Savage | Partnerships produce innovation
D
Since 2009, residents of Burnsville and Savage have been supplementing their drinking
water with treated quarry water. The arrangement has been good for the cities, an area
business, and the environment.
Years before, officials in the two cities were seeing water levels dropping in the Prairie
du Chien-Jordan aquifer. They realized their communities could not continue to grow
without adequate water supplies. Plus, groundwater pumping was threatening a wetland
protected under state law.
Meanwhile, Kraemer Mining and Materials had to pump groundwater from its Burnsville
quarry into the nearby Minnesota River, costing money and approaching limits set by
the Department of Natural Resources.
Kraemer executives worked with planners and local officials in the southwest metro,
supported by a subregional water supply work group. For the drinking-water project, the
state contributed $5.5 million, the cities paid another $5.5 million, and Kraemer put in $3
million of its own money. Now the cities have adequate water for years to come. For
more information, visit goo.gl/trEbmL
4
12/28/16
Regional groundwater modeling | Building shared understanding
The metropolitan area has a wealth of local water supply expertise – over 100 public
water-supply systems effectively provide a safe and abundant supply of clean drinking
water to almost half of Minnesota’s population.
The Metropolitan Council built on this local knowledge and experience in developing
and refining its computer model of groundwater in the region (Metro Model 2 and 3).
The model “imitates” the movement of groundwater under different conditions.
AF
T
It’s been a valuable tool for both regional and local groundwater managers. Ninety-nine
municipal public water suppliers and 49 non-municipal public water suppliers (for
example, mobile home parks, schools, correctional facilities) have used the Council's
Metro Model to define their source water protection areas to safeguard their wells.
“Being able to start from the Metro Model to construct our groundwater model for the
New Brighton well-head protection area made the work more efficient and the cost
lower.” (Grant Wyffels, former Public Works Director, New Brighton) For more
information, visit goo.gl/a0j7PC
Future Work Needs Support
R
In the Twin Cities region, there is no permanent dedicated funding for regional water
supply planning; continuing leadership and support from regional and state decisionmakers is needed. To be formatted as a ‘Gantt’ chart-type infographic
2017
Conservation
and Efficiency
2019
2020
2021
Support funding requests for stakeholder-identified projects that
help achieve outcomes in the 2015 Master Water Supply Plan
(goo.gl/QcTtmY): collaboration, technical studies, water
conservation and reuse
D
Investment in
Water Supply
2018
Provide input on recommendations for dedicated
funding structure/program to support planning and
projects that benefit regional water supplies
Support a regional source of
funding for emergencies
and collaboration
Promote a region-wide message supporting water conservation and
efficiency
Provide ongoing support for grants and other tools for
communities and industry, to reduce the amount of
water used per person in the region
5
12/28/16
2017
Technical
Studies
2018
2019
2020
2021
Support intercommunity water supply studies that provide a base of
technical information that no individual community could develop
alone
Provide support for subregional feasibility studies of
various approaches (reuse, new sources,
partnerships)
Support regional study of commonly
identified issues in updated metro area
local water supply plans
Through ongoing MAWSAC and other work groups, promote
enhanced engagement among local governmental units and
agencies, , to help achieve desired outcomes in the Master Water
Supply Plan (goo.gl/QcTtmY)
AF
T
Collaboration
D
R
Support continued
agency collaboration to
streamline and
consolidate the process
to review and approve
local water supply plans
Support collaboration mapping, building
on local comprehensive plan updates
and stakeholder work groups, to promote
the shared goals identified in local water
supply plans
As the process
to update
regional policies
begins,
MAWSAC will
consider the
work discussed
here to develop
policy
considerations
for more
effective water
supply planning
6