Section 116.195 Beneficial Use of Wastewater; Capital Grants for Demonstration Projects

MINNESOTA STATUTES AND CODES

Section 116.195 Beneficial Use of Wastewater; Capital Grants for Demonstration Projects

116.195 BENEFICIAL USE OF WASTEWATER; CAPITAL GRANTS FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them.

(b) "Agency" means the Pollution Control Agency.

(c) "Beneficial use of wastewater" means use of the effluent from a wastewater treatment plant that replaces use of groundwater.

(d) "Capital project" means the acquisition or betterment of public land, buildings, and other public improvements of a capital nature for the treatment of wastewater intended for beneficial use. Capital project includes projects to retrofit, expand, or construct new treatment facilities.

Subd. 2.Grants for capital project design.

The agency shall make grant awards to political subdivisions for up to 50 percent of the costs to predesign and design capital projects that demonstrate the beneficial use of wastewater. The maximum amount for a grant under this subdivision is $500,000. The grant agreement must provide that the predesign and design work being funded is public information and available to anyone without charge. The agency must make the predesign and design work available on its Web site.

Subd. 3.Grants for capital project implementation.

The agency shall make grant awards to political subdivisions for up to 50 percent of the costs to acquire, construct, install, furnish, and equip capital projects that demonstrate the beneficial use of wastewater. The political subdivision must submit design plans and specifications to the agency as part of the application.

The agency must consult with the Public Facilities Authority and the commissioner of natural resources in reviewing and ranking applications for grants under this section.

The application must identify the uses of the treated wastewater and greater weight will be given to applications that include a binding commitment to participate by the user or users.

The agency must give preference to projects that will reduce use of the greatest volume of groundwater from aquifers with the slowest rate of recharge.

Subd. 4.Application form; procedures.

The agency shall develop an application form and procedures.

Subd. 5.Reports.

The agency shall report by February 1 of each year to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over environment policy and finance and capital investment on the grants made and projects funded under this section. For each demonstration project funded, the report must include information on the scale of water constraints for the area, the volume of treated wastewater supply, the quality of treated wastewater supplied and treatment implications for the industrial user, impacts to stream flow and downstream users, and any considerations related to water appropriation and discharge permits.