MPCA Home > Water > 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.

Planning

• 2008 Small Community Wastewater Needs Report
• Small Community Wastewater Needs in Minnesota: A Strategy for Progress

  Photo courtesy of Western Lake Superior Sanitary   District

• Facilities Plan Submittal Checklist
• Water Quality Compliance Determination Process Improvement (6 Sigma) Project

Sanitary Districts

• Facts About the MPCA Sanitary Districts Program
• 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

Permits

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please be aware that new fees will be effective on July 1, 2009. Permit applications received by MPCA on and after July 1, 2009, and before implementation of the rule, are subject to the new fees and will be charged retroactive fees, as necessary. For more information, go to the MPCA’s Air and Water Permit Fees Web page.

• Sanitary Sewer Extension Permit Process and Forms
• Water Permit Application Forms
• Requests for Permit Discharge Limits
• Preliminary Effluent Limit Review Request Form
• Water Quality Permit Requirements for Wastewater Discharges to Ground-Surface and Subsurface Waters
  
  
• NPDES:
  • Guidance for Issuing NPDES Permits for Discharge to Impaired Waters: Expanding Facilities
  • Guidance for Issuing NPDES Permits for Discharge to Impaired Waters: New Facilities
  • NPDES/SDS Permits: Permitting Process for Surface Water Dischargers
  • Pre-TMDL Phosphorus Permitting: A draft guidance for issuing water quality permits for discharge to impaired waters.
  • NPDES/SDS Permit MNG550000 Minor Mechanical Wastewater Treatment Facility General Permit
    
    
• Permitting Strategy for Addressing Mercury in Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Permits
  • MPCA Mercury Minimization Plan Guide. Some NPDES permits will now require a Mercury Minimization Plan (MMP) to be submitted. For more information on how to reduce mercury and produce a MMP, these documents may helpful.
• Sector Worksheets:
  • Schools
    • Additional information available on the Mercury-Free Web page.
  • Medical Facilities
  • Dental Facilities
  • Residential Collection System and Septage
  • Industrial
    
    
• Variances from Effluent Discharge Restrictions
  • The MPCA may grant variances to the water quality standards in Minnesota Rules Chapter 7050 and the effluent discharge restrictions in Chapter 7053.  The MPCA must list the variances granted under these two rules by October 1 of each year.  This table identifies the variances in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) permits issued by the MPCA as of October 1, 2009.  The table includes the facility granted the variance, the rule from which the variance was granted, the water affected, the year granted, and any restrictions that apply in lieu of the rule requirements. A table showing the active variances is available on the Water Quality Standards Web page.

• Potable Water Treatment Plants:
• MNG640000 General Permit
• MNG820000 General Permit
• Guidelines- Disposal Methods for Water Filter Backwash Solids
• Guidelines for the Land Application of By-Product Lime
• Water Treatment Plant Residual Solids Annual Report
• Water Treatment Plant Release Guidance
• Generic Release Sampling Form
• The permit application is located on Water Quality Permit Application and Miscellaneous Forms
  
  
• MPCA Phosphorus Strategy
• Phosphorus Management Plan Development Resources
• Minnesota River Basin General Phosphorus Permit — Phase 1
  
  
• Understanding the MPCA's Groundwater Nitrate Nitrogen Policy for Large, Subsurface Wastewater-treatment Systems (LSTSs)
• Transfer of MPCA Wastewater Permits: A Homeowner's Association Guide
• LSTS Permitting Letter, August 2002

Operation, Maintenance, Reporting and Awards

• Operation and Maintenance Manual Guidelines
• Operation and Maintenance Manual Certificate of Completion
• How to Complete Your Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR)
• Operator Award Application/Instructions
• Stabilization Pond Discharge Guidance
  • MPCA Regional Offices
  • Discharge Evaluation Report
• Release Sampling Report

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.
  • MPCA Need to Know Focus Sheet
    
  • MPCA Need To Know Narrative
  • "The Octopus" (Relationship Diagram)
  • Need to Know Process Map
  • 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: 2008 Winners
• 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)

Assistance

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