Wastewater

Wastewater treatment and disposal is an important part of our need to protect and preserve Minnesota's water resources. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency plays an active role in this need through a variety of programs. This Web page is structured to provide rapid access to our assistance and requirements to help us work together to meet this common goal.

MPCA recognizes outstanding wastewater plant operators

Wastewater Operators Award — 2011 Winners (wq-wwtp8-25)

The MPCA recently recognized 126 Minnesota wastewater treatment operators whose facilities maintained a perfect record of permit compliance during 2011.

MPCA Commissioner Paul Aasen had high praise for the award recipients: "These operators work hard every day to ensure that Minnesotans can enjoy clean water now and in the future. They are at the front line in protecting our streams and lakes, and ultimately, the health of people and businesses that depend on clean water."

Planning

Photo courtesy of Western Lake Superior Sanitary District

• 2008 Small Community Wastewater Needs Report (wq-wwtp1-06)
• A Strategy for Progress (wq-wwtp1-07)
• Facilities Plan Submittal Checklist (wq-wwtp2-02)

Sanitary districts

• Sanitary Districts program (wq-wwtp3-05)
• Checklist for a Complete Petition
• Creation of a Sanitary District Under the Provisions of Minn. Stat. 115.18 to 115.21
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Formation of Sanitary Districts Under Minn. Stat. 115.18 to 115.37
• Regional Wastewater Treatment: Sanitary Districts and Cooperative Agreements

Operation, maintenance, reporting and awards

•  Municipalities Having Sewer Systems with Sewage Treatment Plants (published in 1947) (wq-wwtp1-08)
•  Operation and Maintenance Manual Guidelines
• Operation and Maintenance Manual Certificate of Completion
• How to Complete Your Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR)
•  Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) Sign-up and Submittal
• Permit Users Manual
• Operator Award Application/Instructions (wq-wwtp7-25)
• Stabilization Pond Discharge Guidance
  • MPCA Regional Offices
  • Discharge Evaluation Report
• Release Sampling Report (wq-wwtp7-20a)
  
  • Release Sampling Report (wq-wwtp7-20b)

Certification and training

• Need to Know (N2K). The N2K criteria have been developed to help wastewater and collection system operators understand the basic skills necessary to operate a system or run a plant.
  • Need to Know for Wastewater Treatment Facility and Collection System Operators
  • Wastewater Treatment Facilities — Suggested Study Materials, Need to Know Topics
  • Collection System Facilities — Suggested Study Materials, Need to Know Topics
• Wastewater Operator Certification - Frequently Asked Questions
• Wastewater Operator Training Seminars
• Wastewater Operators Award — 2011 Winners (wq-wwtp8-25)
• Large Subsurface Sewage Treatment System (LSTS) Operator Certification
• Wastewater Operator Training Rule Revisions - Proposed Changes
• Other MPCA Training/Workshop/Conferences

Pretreatment

• Wastewater Pretreatment
• Fact Sheet: Recognition For Dental Providers Using Amalgam Removal Equipment
• Example Certificate of Recognition (for providing recognition to dental providers)

Program management decisions

• Program Management Decision on Septage Storage (wq-pmd1-02)
• MPCA's Lab Registration Program

Assistance

If you have wastewater questions, send an e-mail to askpca@state.mn.us.