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METROPOLITAN <br />COUNCIL <br />WIT <br />CLEAN <br />WATER <br />LAND & <br />LEG <br />AMENDMENTACY <br />2026 - 2028 <br />METROPOLITAN COUNCIL WATER EFFICIENCY GRANT PROGRAM <br />GUIDELINES <br />updated 02 / 26 / 2026 <br />1. Overview <br />The Metropolitan Council (Met Council) will implement a Water Efficiency Grant Program (WEGP) <br />effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to municipalities <br />that operate or are served by a municipal public water supply system. <br />In this program, municipalities design and operate their own rebate or grant programs, which are <br />funded by the Met Council with pass -through funds from the Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment. <br />The Met Council will provide 80% of the program cost; the municipality must provide the remaining 20% <br />of the program cost. <br />The WEGP focuses on grant activities that reduce existing water use at residential, commercial, and <br />municipal properties. Met Council -approved grant activities include the replacement of specific water - <br />using devices with more efficient alternatives, irrigation system audits, and the conversion of turfgrass <br />to low -input, drought -tolerant landscapes at municipal properties. Residents and businesses <br />participating in a municipality's program must be connected to municipal water. <br />Grants will be made available in amounts with a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $75,000. In the <br />event that there are unused or returned funds, municipalities may apply for a grant amendment to <br />increase their award beyond $75,000 (at the discretion of Met Council). Grantees will be required to <br />submit quarterly reimbursement requests and provide actual or estimated water savings achieved <br />through this program for Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment reporting purposes. <br />Grant program goal <br />The goal of the Water Efficiency Grant Program is to support technical and behavioral changes that <br />improve municipal water use efficiency in the seven -county metropolitan area. <br />Changes for 2026-202G <br />Several changes to the WEGP have been made from past grant cycles. These changes are outlined in <br />the bulleted list below. <br />• Maximum grant amount: $50,000 4 $75,000 <br />• Clearer guidelines for grant activity/device eligibility and property type <br />o Faucets and faucet accessories added <br />o Flushing urinals and flushometer-valve toilets added <br />o Commercial clothes washers and commercial dishwashers added <br />• Met Council strongly encourages (not a requirement) that an irrigation system audit be <br />conducted before the replacement of an irrigation controller or spray sprinkler bodies. An <br />irrigation system audit from an Irrigation Professional certified by a US EPA WaterSense <br />