The MPCA solicited project proposals to distribute $10 million to communities for projects to prepare local wastewater infrastructure for the impacts of climate change. These projects are specifically meant to protect water quality and increase resilience.
Project examples include rehabilitation, upgrades, or construction related to wastewater resilience:
- Asset hardening (e.g., installations, upgrades, electrical work, equipment) for resilience
- Electrical work to protect lift stations / wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) from power outages during extreme weather events
- Overland flooding protection from rising streams (e.g., earthen basins or other barrier to prevent overland flooding of WWTP from receiving stream)
- Moving/raising discharge pipes that are submerged during high stream flows
- Installation of automated warning systems at lift stations, WWTP
- Backflow prevention in public structures to protect from flash flooding
- Treatment system resilience
- Expansion of preliminary treatment units to accommodate high influent flows
- Construction of flow equalization basins/tanks/storage
- Lift station upgrades (bigger or more pumps)
- Control structure replacement (stabilization ponds) to better control wastewater flow
- Replace direct force main discharges into stabilization ponds for collection system resilience
- Public purchase of inflow and infiltration (I&I) detection equipment
- Private or public fixes on lines identified to have high I&I
- Access cover rehabilitation
- Purchase of additional trash pumps/equipment used to move wastewater to prevent basement backups/human contact (e.g., public MnWARN trailers/tools/equipment)
- Wastewater system energy and water efficiency for resilience
- Measurable reductions in wastewater system energy and/or water consumption through process, equipment, and/or fixture upgrades
- Conversion of wastewater operations to renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, micro-hydroelectric, combined heat and power)
- Public recycling and water reuse projects that replace potable with non-potable water
Closed: The application deadline was 4 p.m. on October 4.
Questions and answers
MPCA employees cannot legally answer questions about this grant opportunity. Please submit questions about this grant to grants.pca@state.mn.us with the subject line “FY25 Implementation Grants for Wastewater Resilience” no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.
Informational meeting
The MPCA held a virtual meeting to discuss this grant opportunity, the SWIFT process, and answer questions from participants (83 min.).
Eligibility
Tribal nations and local governmental units (LGUs) that are located within the geographic boundaries of the state of Minnesota are eligible applicants. LGUs include cities, counties, towns (townships), soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs), water management organizations (WMOs), watershed districts (WDs), regional development commissions (RDCs), and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).
Available funds
Total funding available: $10 million.
How to apply
View the RFP. The request for proposal (RFP) and application materials can only be viewed through the online SWIFT portal. The RFP is termed an “Event” within the SWIFT system.
- Go to the online SWIFT portal.
- Click on "Bidding opportunities".
- Find the event by name (MPCA-Implementation Grant for WW Resilience) or ID (2000016310)
- Click "View Bid Package" to see the RFP and forms. (There’s no need to log in to see the documents.)
Apply. Grant applications are only accepted through the SWIFT portal.
- Register as a bidder in the SWIFT Supplier Portal, (Bidding = "applying")
- Choose "Register for an Account" and then "Register as a Bidder".
If you are already registered in the SWIFT system as a supplier (previously known as a vendor), use your supplier ID. Visit the SWIFT Supplier Portal under “Informational Tips” and “Supplier Portal Help” for more information. For questions about applying through SWIFT, please contact the Vendor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100, option 1.