The Metropolitan Council is in the process of updating their Regional Systems Plans (Water Resources, Transportation, Parks, and Housing).  The Metropolitan Council recently released the attached draft Water Resources Policy Plan for public comment.  This case summarizes the draft Water Resources Policy Plan, as well as the attached draft City of Ramsey response.

Draft Water Resources Policy Plan Summary
The Water Resources Policy Plan is an important policy plan that will serve to guide many of Ramsey's goals and initiatives related to water resources in the coming years, thereby having a significant impact on City residents, businesses, industries, and the community at-large.  Page 21 of the policy plan states; “The overall theme of this Policy Plan is to move toward more sustainable water systems through integration of our roles in wastewater, water supply, and surface water planning, management and operation.”  
 
The draft Water Resources Policy Plan does not appear to create any new mandates for the City, but instead appears to perpetuate and expand upon existing policies that could ultimately direct the City’s future water supply source towards surface waters instead of groundwater aquifers.  Because the City of Ramsey borders the Mississippi River, the Met Council previously directed the City to explore the use of the Mississippi River as a potential water supply source before requesting new groundwater wells.  In response, the City completed a study which showed that a surface water treatment facility is technically feasible, but that it would likely not be economically feasible to build a surface water supply treatment facility to serve the needs of the City of Ramsey alone without financial assistance from the Metropolitan Council or others.  However, if multiple communities were interested in constructing a regional surface water treatment facility it could then be economically feasible.

Draft City of Ramsey Response
The draft City of Ramsey response is attached for review.  In summary, the City’s response:
 

1. Supports the Met Council’s goal of achieving sustainable water systems.
2. Supports the regionalization of water systems, as long as such systems are equitable.
3. Identifies some of the difficulties associated with developing regional water supply system partnerships, and the need for Met Council to actively support and lead discussions in developing regional partnerships.
4. Emphasizes the high costs required to convert groundwater supply systems to surface water supply systems, and the inability of local agencies to pay for such improvements on their own.
5. Emphasizes the need to maintain groundwater supply systems for supplemental or emergency water supply needs, such as when pollutants are released in surface waters triggering a temporary facility shutdown.
6. Supports further exploration and implementation of water conservation methods, including the reuse of gray water.

The last bullet above is based on recent discussion by the Environmental Policy Board (EPB).  Per their discussion, the City of Ramsey should encourage exploring alternatives for waste water treatment that incorporate Best Management Practices (BMPs) to promote infiltration prior to discharging the remaining wastewater into the regional wastewater system.  However, the EPB noted that this is not to be interpreted as the City desiring a local wastewater treatment plant, but rather to aid in groundwater recharge.  Page 43 of the draft policy plan includes a preliminary plan for increasing gray water reuse, including a demonstration project in East Bethel.

Staff will amend the draft response based on City Council direction, and will submit the response prior to the public comment deadline for the draft Water Resources Policy Plan which is 5 pm, March 20^th, 2015.

The draft Water Resources Policy Plan was not formally reviewed by City advisory Boards, Commissions, or Committees.  However, the Environmental Policy Board has commented on the topic of water resources on multiple occasions and the attached draft response includes language that staff believes is in alignment with the goals of the EPB, most notably the goal of water conservation and reuse.
 
Staff recommends approval of the draft City of Ramsey response to the Water Resources Policy Plan.