Wastewater

Local governments must submit a wastewater plan and sewer plan as part of their comprehensive plan. We review these plans to ensure the regional system can support planned growth, maximize infrastructure investment, and reduce excessive inflow and infiltration.

  • Consistency with Regional Policy: A comprehensive sewer plan must be consistent with the 2050 Water Resources Policy Plan and approved by the Council before any sanitary sewer extension.
  • Met Council Review: Ensures the regional wastewater system has capacity for planned growth, infrastructure is used efficiently, and inflow/infiltration is minimized.
  • Efficiency of Private Systems: Communities must also manage private wastewater systems and subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS) outside the regional system.
  • Level of Service: Communities may be fully inside, outside, or partially served by the regional system—review all requirements carefully to ensure compliance.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum requirements are the baseline elements every community must include in their comprehensive plan. They ensure consistency and compliance with state law, and alignment with regional policy. These requirements create a foundation that allows local plans to reflect community priorities while supporting regional goals. For more information about minimum requirements, click here.

Using the table

  • Filter: by community, policy topic area, or explore new/updated requirements for the 2050 planning cycle.
  • Ref No: Each requirement has a unique identifier. Gaps in numbering mean certain regional requirements do not apply to your community.
  • Resources: provides tools, guides, and resources to help meet each requirement. Some requirements may appear more than once if multiple resources are available.

Your complete list of minimum requirements can also be downloaded directly from your Community Page.

 

Going Beyond the Minimum Requirements

Meeting the minimum requirements ensures that a comprehensive plan is complete and compliant, but communities that go further can create plans that are truly transformative. By moving beyond the basics, local governments can reflect local priorities, prepare for future challenges, and enhance the unique character of their communities while advancing equity, resilience, and quality of life for all residents. This section offers resources, advice, and best practices to help communities strengthen their plans and set a course toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant future. 

Plan for Wastewater and Infrastructure Needs

  • You may want to consider shorter staged wastewater flow projections (less than 10-year increments) to assist with planning local infrastructure improvements.  
  • Review the Wastewater Review Fact Sheet to better understand how local plans are reviewed for conformance to the regional system plan.

Address Inflow and Infiltration (I/I)

  • Explore our Inflow and Infiltration toolbox to find more information to help develop your own I/I Mitigation Program, access resources that can be used to communicate with residents about I/I, learn about available grant programs, and how you can protect public health, local infrastructure, and the environment by reducing I/I.  

Integrate Land Use and Density Considerations

  • As you work on your plan, refer to the Net Residential Density Fact Sheet  to integrate land use and density considerations into your infrastructure plans. 
  • If your community contains or is a neighbor to a water resource recovery facility, you may consider guiding land uses in that area that may be able to take advantage of wastewater reuse opportunities. 
  • For Diversified Rural Communities with Flexible Development Ordinances: You must be consistent with the Flexible Development Guidelines. Diversified Rural areas offer greater opportunities for future redevelopment on regional wastewater collection and treatment systems, some of which are included in the Met Council’s Long-Term Service Area. Review these guidelines if you have local ordinances that allow densities greater than 1 unit per 10 acres (open space ordinances, cluster developments, density bonuses etc.). See Land Use Minimum Requirements. 

Use Orderly Annexation Agreements (OAAs) Effectively

  • Orderly Annexation Agreements (OAAs) are often used as communities accommodate growth and provide services to areas outside of their current municipal boundaries. We’ve provided a few examples of OAAs for your information. 

Advance Climate Resilience and Sustainable Water Management

  • The Met Council is working hard to help our region be resilient to climate change. Find tools on our Climate Action webpage to find ways to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change impacts. 
  • "One Water" integrated water management considers water as it moves from water supply, through wastewater systems, and into surface waters. Consider how your plan can incorporate a One Water approach to support water sustainability and water planning. 

Plan for Future Regional Wastewater Service Connections (SSTS)

  • There are many areas within the Rural Communities that have been identified for potential future connection to regional wastewater services. Developmental strategies should be implemented by those communities, through land use guiding, essentially reserving them for future wastewater service. 

Coordinate with Counties on Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS)

  • Consider how the County may be involved in the regulation and administration of subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS).  You may need to coordinate with them during the planning process.