Agenda - Council - 07/28/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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12 2 Water Supply Goal for the Region Introduction This chapter discusses the goal, guiding principles and vision of the Master Water Supply Plan. These elements are expressed through Metropolitan Council's water supply policies and implementation strategies in the Water Resources Policy Plan, with this Master Water Supply Plan providing more detail. This information shapes the approaches recommended for supplying the water uses outlined in Chapter 3. Implementation of these policies will help the region achieve the outcomes discussed in Chapter 6. Chapter 7, Implementation Strategies, provides more detail about roles and responsibilities, milestones, and possible funding sources. Goal: A sustainable water supply now and in the future The Master Water Supply Plan's single overarching goal is that he region's water supply is sustainable now and in the future. The premise of sustainability as the foundation of water supply planning is recognized in Minnesota statute and the Twin Cities metropolitan area's long-range plan, Thrive MSP 2040. Minnesota Statutes, Section 4A.07 define sustainable development for local government as: "...development that maintains or enhances economic opportunity and community well-being while protecting and restoring the natural environment upon which people and economies depend. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Minnesota Statutes, Section 103G.287 provides the following definition of sustainable water use: "...water use is sustainable when the use does not harm ecosystems, degrade water quality, or compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Thrive MSP 2040, states that planning for water supply sustainability means: "...promoting the wise use of water through expanding water conservation and reuse, increasing groundwater recharge, and optimizing surface water and groundwater use" Evaluation of sustainability considers a wide variety of information, and Chapter 5 provides more detail. While this Master Water Supply Plan incorporates the best regional information available in 2015, insights may change over time as new technical information becomes available and policies change. Vision for a sustainable balance of sources Considering the statutory definitions and regional long-range plan above, the region's water supply may be considered sustainable when water users maximize their use of existing water supply infrastructure investments within the sustainable limits of available sources, and use water in a way that: • Is efficient and conserves water • Maintains aquifer levels consistent with safe yield conditions defined in Minnesota Statutes • Maintains surface water by managing withdrawals, including diversions of groundwater that supports them, to maintain protected flows and elevations • Minimizes impacts to groundwater flow directions in areas where groundwater contamination has, or may, result in risks to the public health WATER SUPPLY MASTER PLAN- Draft June 2015