Managing wastewater is important for the health and safety of any community. It can also affect a community’s growth potential and environmental value. Financing for stormwater projects is available for public entities.
Apply for the Project Priority List
The MPCA prepares the Project Priority List (PPL) to determine funding priorities for Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loans and Point Source Implementation Grants. Learn more about the PPL and timelines on the Wastewater and stormwater financial assistance page.
PPL application materials
Public entities that would like to get their projects ranked on the Project Priority Lists must e-mail an application and scoring worksheet to ppl.submittals.pca@state.mn.us.
PPL wastewater application (wq-wwtp2-32)- Project Priority List (PPL) scoring worksheet - Existing permit (wq-wwtp2-34)
- Project Priority List (PPL) scoring worksheet - Unsewered area (wq-wwtp2-35)
State Revolving Fund Project Priority List Part 1: Unsewered Area Needs (wq-wwtp2-10)
Resources
- Minnesota Rules – Wastewater and Storm Water Treatment Assistance (Chapter 7077)
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Minnesota Rules - Individual Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (Chapter 7080)
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Clean Water Project Priority List (PPL) scoring summary (wq-wwtp2-43)
Clean Water Revolving Fund
The Clean Water Revolving Fund, also known as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund or simply SRF, is established under the federal Clean Water Act and state law to make loans for both point source and nonpoint source water pollution control projects. Minnesota's SRF is managed by the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA), a board of six state commissioners from the departments of Employment and Economic Development, Finance, Health, Agriculture, Transportation and the MPCA. PFA and MPCA staff jointly administer the wastewater and stormwater components of the SRF. The PFA is responsible for the financial elements of the program, while the MPCA is responsible for its environmental and technical components.
- Administrative checklist for wastewater collection and treatment projects (wq-wwtp2-37) -- MPCA staff, project engineers, and municipal administrators use this checklist to track the required MPCA administrative forms for each project
- CWRF facilities plan submittal checklist (wq-wwtp2-02)
- Wastewater collection and treatment facilities - CWRF cost eligibility guidelines (wq-wwtp2-41)
- CWRF guidance for municipal wastewater projects 30 year expected life analysis (wq-wwtp2-51)
- State Revolving Fund - Project schedule form (wq-wwtp2-19)
The Green Project Reserve may forgive up to 25% of your loan principal (up to $1 million) if your project uses green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency, or other environmental innovations.
Wastewater facilities plan and plan supplement (Minn. Rule Ch 7077.0272)
- Design flow and loading determination guidelines for wastewater treatment plants (wq-wwtp5-20)
- Cost and effectiveness guidance (wq-wwtp2-46a)
- CWRF cost and effectiveness checklist (wq-wwtp2-46b)
- CWRF B3 2030 exemption form (wq-wwtp2-65)
- CWRF cost and effectiveness certification form (wq-wwtp2-46)
- State Revolving Fund - Project schedule form (wq-wwtp2-19)
Environmental review documents
Environmental Information Worksheet (wq-wwtp2-20)- State Environmental Review Process (SERP) mailing list (wq-wwtp2-16)
Section 106
- Advisory Council on Preservation Conditions website
- Section 106 Consultation guidance document (wq-wwtp2-50)
- Section 106 Review Exemption Checklist (wq-wwtp2-48)
- Appendix C — Template letter to the MnHPO (wq-wwtp2-49)
- Tribal contacts (p-gen5-25)
Certification submission requirements (Minn. Rule Ch 7077.0280)
- State Revolving Fund - Schedule of completion facilities plan form (wq-wwtp2-17)
- State Revolving Fund - Certification of enactment of sewer use/rate ordinance form (wq-wwtp2-21)
Project performance (Minn. Rule Ch 7077.0288)
- One-year certification form (wq-wwtp2-15)
- Wastewater operation and maintenance manual certification of completion (wq-wwtp7-02)
- Documentation of sufficient funds form (wq-wwtp2-18)
- Electronic Submittal: Wastewater facility construction records (wq-wwtp5-87)
Water Infrastructure Fund
The Public Facilities Authority's Water Infrastructure Fund program provides grants and deferred loans to local governments for high cost, high priority wastewater projects, in conjunction with U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grants and loans or the Clean Water Revolving Fund. Projects must be ranked on the MPCA’s Project Priority List to be eligible.
Point Source Implementation grants
Point Source Implementation grants are administered by the Public Facilities Authority and assist units of local government with the cost of water infrastructure projects. The grants can offset up to 80% of the cost (with a maximum award of $7 million) of public-owned stormwater projects necessary to meet TMDL wasteload reductions. All projects seeking Point Source Implementation grant funds must be listed on the MPCA project priority list.
Small community wastewater treatment program
The Public Facilities Authority's Small Community Wastewater Treatment Program provides funding to help communities replace non-complying septic systems and straight pipes with new individual or cluster subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS) that will be publicly owned, operated and maintained. Technical assistance grants up to $60,000 may be used to conduct preliminary site evaluations and prepare feasibility reports, provide advice on possible SSTS alternatives, and help develop the technical, managerial, and financial capacity to build, operate, and maintain SSTS systems. The PFA also offers construction financing up to $2 million per year at 1% interest and grants up to 80 percent, based on affordability criteria.
Contact
- Financial assistance: Bill Dunn (651-757-2324, cell: 651-402-1639)
- Technical issues: Randy Thorson (651-757-2779)