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

Home

• Collaborate with state agencies, watershed organizations, and community water suppliers to update the regional Master Water Supply Plan. • Support community efforts to improve water supply resiliency by cooperatively identifying economically and technically feasible water supply alternatives. • As required by Minnesota Statutes, review and comment on local water supply plans. • As requested by the DNR, review and comment on Groundwater Management Areas and water appropriation permits. • As required by Minnesota Statutes, review and comment on wellhead protection and county groundwater plans. • Facilitate discussions on water supply issues that transcend community boundaries, through subregional work groups and on an ad hoc basis as needed. • Collaborate with partners to perform special studies as needed. • Work with our partners to fill gaps in assessments of lake, stream, river, and groundwater data. • In partnership with others, complete technical studies to understand regional and subregional long-term water supply availability and demand. • Support community efforts to identify and evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of water supply approaches and best practices that increase water conservation, enhance groundwater recharge, and make the best use of groundwater, surface water, reclaimed wastewater, and stormwater. • In partnership with others, research and promote low impact development, land use practices, agricultural best practices, and cooperative water use practices that minimize impacts on aquifers and maximize groundwater recharge, where practical. • Promote and support water conservation measures, including education, outreach and tool development. • Investigate reusing treated wastewater to supplement groundwater and surface water as sources of water to support regional growth, and when cost-effective, implement reuse. • Support cost-effective investments in water supply infrastructure to promote sustainable use and protect the region's water supplies • Evaluate impacts of planned growth and water demand on aquifer levels and water supply sustainability Additional water supply -related activities • Promote residential development patterns that protect natural resources, the quality and quantity of our water resources, and our water supply • Monitor surface water quality and quantity • Issue industrial wastewater discharge permits • Monitor groundwater quality and quantity at recharge sites such as the East Bethel wastewater reclamation facility Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Role The DNR plays an important role in supporting sustainable use of water through its water appropriation permit program, approval of local water supply plans, information collection and analysis activities, law enforcement responsibilities, education and technical assistance opportunities. The DNR assists public water suppliers in developing local water supply plans to address the unique needs and resource characteristics of the individual communities. These plans are required of every public water supplier serving more than 1,000 people, but DNR staff also work closely with smaller WATER SUPPLY MASTER PLAN- Draft June 2015 85