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MPCA Home > Water > Water
Financial Assistance > Water Pollution
Control Revolving Fund > Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund: Point Source
Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund: Point Source
The Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund or State Revolving Fund
(SRF) provides loans to municipalities for planning, design and construction
of wastewater and stormwater treatment projects. The loan program is
administered by two state agencies: The Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency (MPCA) and the Public Facilities Authority (PFA), which is housed
in the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Municipalities are eligible to receive loans if the project is to
be publicly owned. Public wastewater treatment projects are eligible
for loan funds if it addresses a need for wastewater transportation
or treatment. Below are the steps a community must complete to get
a loan through the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund.
Step
1: The municipality requests placement on the
Project Priority List (PPL) by submitting a completed PPL data sheet,
a letter requesting placement and required attachments.
What is the Project Priority List (PPL)?
The PPL is a priority listing of the projects. Minnesota
Rules ch. 7077 require the MPCA to develop and maintain a project
priority list of municipalities that have a need for a new or upgraded
wastewater treatment system.
Stormwater treatment projects are now eligible to apply for placement on the
PPL.
Each year, the MPCA and PFA establish a schedule of submittal dates
for the PPL and Intended Use Plan (IUP) that must be adhered to.
How does a municipality get a project placed on the PPL?
Submit a written request to the MPCA on the PPL data sheet, which
includes:
- A description of the need for the new or upgraded wastewater
treatment system.
- If known, a description of the proposed project and its cost.
- As required in the PPL data sheet, a system without a NPDES or
SDS permit, the information submittal must include:
- the total number of structures with wastewater flows in
the project service area; and
- a map of the project service area which has an identifiable
scale, identifies all the structures with wastewater
flows, and has the maximum impact zone clearly encircled.
-
 Project
Priority List
-
 PPL
Wastewater Application
- PPL
Stormwater Application
Step
2: The project must submit a facilities plan
and receive preliminary approval of the plan by a MPCA engineer.
Facility Plan Requirements
- Must have preliminary approval from MPCA staff before project
is placed on the Intended Use Plan (IUP).
- Before adopting, municipality must hold at least one public
hearing to discuss the proposed project.
- Must be prepared and signed by a professional engineer registered
in the state of Minnesota.
- Facility plans for individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS)
designed to treat 5000 gallons of less per day must be
prepared and signed by either a professional engineer or an ISTS
designer.
A Facilities Plan must address the following:
- Description and evaluation of existing system which must consider:
- Age;
- Condition;
- Design Capacity;
- Treatment capabilities of each treatment unit;
- The system's ability to meet current of proposed
permit requirements; and
- For existing ISTSs, a survey must also be prepared
which identifies whether or not each ISTS project
in the project area conforms to Minn. Rules ch.7080.
- Data describing existing residential and non-residential
wastewater flows and loadings reported on a form provided
by the MPCA.
- Data describing future residential
and non-residential wastewater
flows and loadings with the next 20 year
period, on a form provided by
the MPCA, based on;
- Projected residential growth
- Projected non-residential
growth
- Signed letters of intent
from significant industrial
users.
- A
discussion of treatment alternative's that were
considered during the facility selection process and are
capable of meeting the applicable effluent, water
quality and public health requirements for 20 years.
The discussion must include:
- A
cost-effective comparison of the alternatives
that were considered;
- A
site assessment of the existing soil
and ground water conditions conducted
and signed by a professional engineer;
- For
ISTSs designed to treat less than 5,000
gallons per day, a site assessment
must be done by either a professional engineer
or a certified evaluator/designer;
- An
evaluation of the impact of the alternatives
on all existing wastewater treatment systems,
including sewers and lift stations;
and
- A
comparison of the potential environmental
impacts.
- A
description of
the selected
treatment alternatives
and the
complete wastewater
treatment system
of which
it is
a part,
including:
- The
specific design
parameters of
all individual
treatment units
and the
complete treatment
system;
- Estimated
construction, annual
operation and
maintenance, and
equipment replacement
costs;
- Estimated
annual sewer
service charges;
- A
determination of
whether pretreatment
of any
industrial wastes
is needed
in order
to avoid
disruption of
the proper
operation of
the proposed
system; and
- An
evaluation of
how and
where sludge
or septage
resulting from
the treatment
process will
be disposed.
- An
analysis
of
the
25-
and
100-
year
flood
elevations
in
relation
to
the
proposed
project
site
or
sites,
showing
that
the
project
will
be
operable
during
a
25-year
flood
and
protected
during
a
100-year
flood.
- An
analysis
of
how
interim
treatment
will
be
accomplished
during
construction
to
meet
permit
requirements.
Along with the facilities plans, please submit the following:
- For ISTS that serve more than one structure, an assurance from
the municipality stating that all property owners agree to
be part of the system, to participate in the construction project,
and to finance future operation, maintenance, and replacement.
- The mailing list used for public noticing on a form provided
by the MPCA.
- A public hearing summary.
- The municipality's formal resolution adopting the facilities
plan.
- A list of ordinances and/or intermunicipal agreements required
for the project's implementation.
- A signed treatment agreement with each significant industrial
user.
- A completed environmental information sheet.
- For the construction of new treatment systems, copies of
all notifications, certifications and comments received
from other government units pertaining to the initiation of the
facilities planning process. For further information on
the planning requirements, please open and view the
following fact sheet: Notification
Requirements for New Wastewater Treatment Systems.
This fact sheet provides information on what the requirement
is and who needs to do it.
Step
3: Once the project gets preliminary approval
of the facilities plan, the project is then eligible to be listed
on the Intended Use Plan (IUP). Placement is required regardless
of receiving a planning, design, or construction loan. Although
planning and design loans can be placed on the IUP without the
facilites plan submittal or approval, projects requesting a construction
loan must have preliminary approval of the facilities plan before
it can be placed on the IUP.
What is the Intended Use Plan (IUP)?
- A document prepared annually by Public Facilities Authority (PFA)
according to EPA requirements.
- Includes the list of wastewater projects proposed to receive
loans.
- Based on requests received from municipalities with eligible
projects.
- Contact the Public
Facilities Authority (PFA) directly to be placed
on the IUP.
To Be Eligible for Placement on the IUP:
- The project must be on the current Project Priority List (PPL).
- For a construction loan, project must have preliminary approval
of facilities plan.
To Request Placement on the IUP:
- The municipality submits a written request to the PFA, which
includes:
- a brief description of the project
- an updated project cost estimate and, if different,
the requested loan amount
- the proposed project schedule
- a breakdown of estimated quarterly cash flow needs
Step
4: The MPCA is also responsible for certifying
projects to the PFA for funding. Requirements for certification
are as follows:
PLANNING
Certification Requirements for Planning Projects
Municipalities seeking certification for planning projects shall
submit:
- A description of the scope of work and estimated costs that
will lead to an approved facilities plan.
- A schedule for completion and approval of the facilities plan on
a form provided by the agency.
- For individual sewage treatment system projects, a copy of
a draft ordinance that adopts the requirements of Minnesota
Rules, Chapter 7080, individual sewage treatment standards.
DESIGN
Certification Requirements for Design Projects
Municipalities seeking certification for design projects shall
submit:
- A schedule for completion of plans and specifications.
- For individual sewage treatment system projects, a copy of
a draft ordinance that adopts the requirements of Minnesota
Rules, Chapter 7080, individual sewage treatment standards.
CONSTRUCTION
Certification Requirements for Construction Projects
This packet is for municipalities that intend to proceed with
the construction of wastewater treatment or collection facilities
under the provisions of the Financial Assistance Program.
Certification Requirements:
- Plans and specifications as required under Minnesota rule part 7077.0274 for
the commissioner's review and approval.
- For wastewater treatment systems that are required to have
an NPDES or SDS permit, a certification that the municipality
has adopted a sewer charge system that includes:
- the engineering and accounting data for the flows and
loadings of the users of the wastewater treatment
system;
- the estimated annual costs of equipment replacement
and operating and maintaining a system;
- the rates that shall be charged to each user for
the cost of operation, maintenance, and equipment
replacement; and
- the rates that shall be charged to each user for
the cost of debt retirement for the local capital
cost of the treatment system.
- A copy of the municipality's resolution adopting the sewer
service charge system.
- A certification that the municipality has enacted a sewer
use ordinance, sewer rate ordinance, or combined sewer
use and sewer rate ordinance that:
- establishes a rate setting method for user charges;
- establishes a rate setting method for debt charges;
- requires separate funding accounts for operation
and maintenance, equipment replacement, and
debt retirement;
- establishes financial management procedures for the
sewer service charge system;
- establishes procedures for public noticing sewer
service charge system amendments;
- prohibits new inflow connections to be added to the
wastewater treatment system; requires new sewers
and connections to be properly designed and constructed;
and
- prohibits toxics and other pollutants to be placed
in the municipal wastewater treatment system
in amounts or concentrations that endanger public safety or
the physical integrity of the treatment system or cause
exceedance of permit limitations.
- An affidavit of publication for the sewer use
ordinance and the sewer rate ordinance.
- For individual sewage treatment system projects,
a certification that the municipality has
enacted an ordinance that:
- adopts the requirements of Minnesota
Rules, Chapter 7080;
- prohibits non-sewage discharges from
nonresidential structures with
wastewater flows or non-sewage discharges from residential
structures with a water-using business
to individual sewage treatment
systems; and
- establishes a maintenance plan.
- A certification
that the municipality
is enforcing the
ordinance under item
6 (above).
Step
5: Final Approval Process
The final steps to receiving a loan include:
- MPCA approves loan certification material
- MPCA certifies loan project to PFA
For more information about the Water Pollution Control Revolving
Fund opportunities for point sources, contact Bill
Dunn at 651-757-2324.
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