Recycling Treated Municipal Wastewater for Industrial Water Use

Craddock Consulting Engineers
In Association with CDM & James Crook 1-1
TM1-Sec1_0707.doc
Section 1
Introduction
1.1 Project Vision
Conserving Minnesota’s ground water and surface water resources is important to all
sectors in the state and is key to the state’s long-term economic development. The
economic vitality of Minnesota requires the business sector to grow with the
population of the state. While water supply availability is not presently considered a
limitation for industrial development in many Minnesota communities, there are
numerous areas in the state that have a limited supply of high quality water. Even
within the metro area of the Twin Cities, development is now extending to areas with
less productive aquifers and future growth will increase competition for a limited
water supply. Industries requiring abundant or high quality water could be restricted
from locating in some areas unless other water supply options are made known and
available to them.
One potential supply in these water-short areas is effluent from municipal wastewater
treatment plants (WWTPs), also known as reclaimed water. Municipalities may
benefit by offering ”water reuse” as an alternative water source to industries and by
forging partnerships with industries to promote conservation of a limited potable
water supply and improved protection of the state’s water resources.
In July 2005, the Metropolitan Council (Met Council) was awarded a $300,000 grant
from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources for this project titled,
“Recycling Treated Municipal Wastewater for Industrial Water Use.” The timeframe
for the project is July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007. Funding for this project was
recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources from the
Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The Met Council is
providing additional funding for the project through in-kind contributions of staff
time. In addition, other state agencies such as the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency (MPCA), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) are participating via stakeholder meetings
and technical review and input. It is estimated that 20% of project funding is from
these in-kind contributions of staff time and 80% from the Minnesota Environment
and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The guiding goal for this project is to promote the conservation of Minnesota’s
ground water and surface water resources by recycling treated municipal wastewater
for industrial use. The project is applicable to communities throughout Minnesota.
Benefits include: (1) Less ground water aquifer depletion due to one-time use and
discharge from surface waters; (2) Lower demand on finite water resources to support
business and growth; and (3) Reliable and potentially lower cost water sources for
industry in the long-term.