The city of Waseca is renewing the permit for its wastewater treatment facility which discharges to an unnamed ditch that flows to the Le Sueur River. The facility is designed to treat an average wet weather flow of 3.5 million gallons per day. As part of the permit, the city has also applied for a variance from the total chloride water quality standard. A variance is granted when meeting the standard is not feasible, and there is currently no feasible way to remove chloride from wastewater. The facility has satisfied the necessary conditions, and the MPCA will recommend that the EPA grant the variance after the public has provided input.
Watch the recorded online public meeting to learn more about the requested variance.