Water Efficiency Grant Program

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2024 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$750,000
2023 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$625,000
2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$625,000
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$375,000
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$375,000
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Metropolitan Council
Recipient Type
Local/Regional Government
Status
Ongoing
Start Date
July 2016
End Date
June 2026
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Anoka
Carver
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Scott
Washington
Anoka
Carver
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Scott
Washington
Project Overview

The Metropolitan Council was awarded $1,500,000 from Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funds for a Water Efficiency Grant Program during the Minnesota Legislature's 2023 Session. The Metropolitan Council (Council) implemented a water efficiency grant program effective July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026. Grants were awarded on a competitive basis to municipalities that are served by a municipal water system. The Council provides 80% of the program cost; the municipality must provide the remaining 20%. Municipalities use the combined Council and municipality funds to run their own grant or rebate programs. Grants were made available in amounts with a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $50,000. Grantees are required to provide estimated water savings achieved through this program for Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment reporting purposes.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Zelle, Johnson, Chamblis, Carter, Barber, Pacheco, Lilligren, Osman, Cameron, Morales, Lindstrom, Cederberg, Vento, Lee, Carter, Dolkar, Wulff

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2023, Chapter 40, Art. 2, Sec. 8, Subd. (b)
Appropriation Language

$750,000 the first year and $750,000 the second year are for the water demand reduction grant program to encourage municipalities in the metropolitan area to implement measures to reduce water demand to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies.

2024 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$750,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$100,430
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The goal of the water efficiency grant program is to support technical and behavioral changes that improve municipal water use efficiency in the seven-county metropolitan area. Grants can be used for rebates to residents and commercial properties that replace inefficient water-using devices with approved devices that use substantially less water, or for irrigation system audits. Proposed measurable outcomes are cost savings, water savings, and device replacements.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Communities used grant funds to lower the cost of resident purchase and installation of products that reduce water use, such as EPA WaterSense labeled low-flow toilets, Energy Star labeled washing machines, and WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, WaterSense labeled irrigation spray sprinkler bodies, and WaterSense Partner-certified irrigation system audits.

Thirty-seven communities participated in the 2022-2024 grant program. Grant recipients and award amounts included: Apple Valley $35,000, Bayport $8,000, Bloomington $25,000, Brooklyn Park $11,000, Chanhassen $34,440, Circle Pines $9,600, Coon Rapids $26,000, Cottage Grove $43,000, Eagan $42,000, Eden Prairie $44,000, Farmington $11,000, Forest Lake $26,000, Fridley $10,000, Hugo $36,000, Lake Elmo $43,000, Lakeville $43,000, Lino Lakes $24,000, Maple Grove $45,000, Minnetonka $22,000, New Brighton $28,000, North St. Paul $22,000, Plymouth $35,000, Prior Lake $9,600, Ramsey $19,800, Robbinsdale $6,080, Rosemount $34,000, Roseville $12,000, Savage $30,000, Shakopee Public Utilities Commission $49,000, Shoreview $16,000, Shorewood $8,400, St. Louis Park $25,000, Stillwater $25,000, Victoria $39,000, White Bear Lake $23,000, White Bear Township $38,000, Woodbury $40,000.

Additionally, provided $150,000 in grant money to Saint Paul Regional Water Services to install seven advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) collectors in designated areas of concentrated poverty in Saint Paul.

From 7/1/2023 through 6/30/2024: 

  • 3,654 devices were replaced
    • 1,214 toilets
    • 701 irrigation controllers
    • 290 irrigation spray sprinkler bodies
    • 911 clothes washers
    • 538 dishwashers
  • 29 irrigation system audits

From estimated water savings provided by grantees, approximately 34,655,455 gallons will be saved each year by these grant activities. 

Source of Additional Funds

20% local match

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2021, 1st Special Session, Chp. 1, Art. 2, Sec. 8, Subd. (b)
Appropriation Language

$625,000 the first year and $625,000 the second year are for the water demand reduction grant program to encourage municipalities in the metropolitan area to implement measures to reduce water demand to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies.

2023 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$625,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$108,491
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The goal of the water efficiency grant program is to support technical and behavioral changes that improve municipal water use efficiency in the seven-county metropolitan area. Grants can be used for rebates to residents and commercial properties that replace inefficient water-using devices with approved devices that use substantially less water, or for irrigation system audits. Proposed measurable outcomes are cost savings, water savings, and device replacements.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Communities used grant funds to lower the cost of resident purchase and installation of products that reduce water use, such as EPA WaterSense labeled low-flow toilets, Energy Star labeled washing machines, and WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, WaterSense labeled irrigation spray sprinkler bodies, and WaterSense Partner-certified irrigation system audits.

Thirty-seven communities participated in the 2022-2024 grant program.  Grant recipients and amounts included: Apple Valley $35,000, Bayport $8,000, Bloomington $25,000, Brooklyn Park $11,000, Chanhassen $34,440, Circle Pines $9,600, Coon Rapids $26,000, Cottage Grove $43,000, Eagan $42,000, Eden Prairie $44,000, Farmington $11,000, Forest Lake $26,000, Fridley $10,000, Hugo $36,000, Lake Elmo $43,000, Lakeville $43,000, Lino Lakes $24,000, Maple Grove $45,000, Minnetonka $22,000, New Brighton $28,000, North St. Paul $22,000, Plymouth $35,000, Prior Lake $9,600, Ramsey $19,800, Robbinsdale $6,080, Rosemount $34,000, Roseville $12,000, Savage $30,000, Shakopee Public Utilities Commission $49,000, Shoreview $16,000, Shorewood $8,400, St. Louis Park $25,000, Stillwater $25,000, Victoria $39,000, White Bear Lake $23,000, White Bear Township $38,000, Woodbury $40,000.

From 7/1/2022 - 6/30/2023

  • 3336 devices were replaced
    • 1149  toilets
    • 1038 irrigation controllers
    • 95 irrigation spray sprinkler bodies
    • 567 clothes washers
    • 487 dishwashers
  • 113  irrigation system audits

From estimated water savings provided by grantees, approximately 39,629,421 gallons will be saved each year by these grant activities

Source of Additional Funds

20% Local match.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2021, 1st Special Session, Chp. 1, Art. 2, Sec. 8, Subd. (b)
Appropriation Language

$625,000 the first year and $625,000 the second year are for the water demand reduction grant program to encourage municipalities in the metropolitan area to implement measures to reduce water demand to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies.

2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$625,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$85,583
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The goal of the water efficiency grant program is to support technical and behavioral changes that improve municipal water use efficiency in the seven-county metropolitan area. Grants can be used for rebates to residents and commercial properties that replace inefficient water-using devices with approved devices that use substantially less water, or for irrigation system audits. Proposed measurable outcomes are cost savings, water savings, and device replacements.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Communities used grant funds to lower the cost of resident purchase and installation of products that reduce water use, such as EPA WaterSense labeled low-flow toilets, Energy Star labeled washing machines, and WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, WaterSense labeled irrigation spray sprinkler bodies, and WaterSense Partner-certified irrigation system audits.

From 7/1/2021-6/30/2022

  • 2590 devices were replaced
    • 1020 toilets
    • 720 irrigation controllers
    • 405 irrigation spray sprinkler bodies
    • 445 clothes washers
  • 15 irrigation system audits

From estimated water savings provided by grantees, approximately 29,597,009 gallons will be saved each year by these grant activities

Source of Additional Funds

25% Local match

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2019, 1st Special Session, Chp. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 9, Subd. (b)
Appropriation Language

$375,000 the first year and $375,000 the second year are for the water demand reduction grant program to encourage municipalities in the metropolitan area to implement measures to reduce water demand to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies.

2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$375,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$83,506
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The goal of the water efficiency grant program is to support technical and behavioral changes that improve municipal water use efficiency in the seven-county metropolitan area. Grants can be used for rebates to residents and commercial properties that replace inefficient water-using devices with approved devices that use substantially less water, or for irrigation system audits. Proposed measurable outcomes are cost savings, water savings, and device replacements.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Communities used grant funds to lower the cost of resident purchase and installation of products that reduce water use, such as EPA WaterSense labeled low-flow toilets, Energy Star labeled washing machines, and WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, WaterSense labeled irrigation spray sprinkler bodies, and WaterSense Partner-certified irrigation system audits.

Thirty-seven communities participated in the 2019-2022 program.  Grant recipients and amounts included: Apple Valley $29,000, Bloomington $21,000, Brooklyn Center $8,000, Brooklyn Park $10,300, Chanhassen $19,300, Chaska $14,000, Cottage Grove $27,300, Dayton $2,000, Eagan $30,300, Eden Prairie $44,300, Farmington $10,543.40, Forest Lake $12,300, Fridley $24,300, Hopkins $19,000, Hugo $31,300, Lake Elmo $35,000, Lakeville $36,000, Mahtomedi $6,300, Minnetonka $20,000, New Brighton $18,300, North St. Paul $23,000, Oakdale $1,315.63, Plymouth $33,300, Prior Lake $8,000, Ramsey $28,000, Robbinsdale $8,000, Rosemount $11,300, Roseville $10,000, Savage $11,000, Shakopee Public Utilities Commission $23,300, Shoreview $23,000, Shorewood $19,000, St. Louis Park $23,000, Victoria $12,300, White Bear Lake $34,300, White Bear Township $44,300, Woodbury $50,300.

  • 4,416 devices were replaced
    • 1,348 toilets
    • 2,091 irrigation controllers
    • 26 irrigation spray sprinkler bodies
    • 915 clothes washers
  • 36 irrigation system audits 

From estimated water savings provided by grantees, approximately 92,500,000 gallons per year will be saved each year by these replacements. 

Source of Additional Funds

25% Local match

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2019, 1st Special Session, Chp. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 9, Subd. (b)
Appropriation Language

$375,000 the first year and $375,000 the second year are for the water demand reduction grant program to encourage municipalities in the metropolitan area to implement measures to reduce water demand to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies.

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$375,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$41,534
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The goal of the water efficiency grant program is to work with municipal water suppliers to help increase water efficiency in their communities. Grants can be used for rebates to residents and commercial properties that replace inefficient water-using devices with approved devices that use substantially less water, or for irrigation system audits. Proposed measurable outcomes are cost savings, water savings, and device replacements.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Outcomes (cost savings, water savings, and device replacements) were reported at the end of the project.

Source of Additional Funds

25% Local match. Other Funds Leveraged for FY 2020 only includes local match from Q1 and Q2 of 2020.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2015, Chapter 2, Art. 2, Sec. 9, Subd. (b)
Appropriation Language

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are for the water demand reduction grant program to encourage implementation of water demand reduction measures by municipalities in the metropolitan area to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies.

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$205,742
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

A pilot program for water efficiency was established with the goal of supporting technical and behavioral changes that improve municipal water use efficiency in the seven-county metropolitan area. Qualified activities include replacement of toilet with EPA WaterSense certified high-efficiency toilets, residential clothes washing machine replacements with Energy Star certified washing machines, irrigation system audits by EPA WaterSense certified professionals, and irrigation controller replacements with EPA WaterSense certified replacements. Proposed measurable outcomes are cost savings, water savings, and device replacements.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Communities used grant funds to lower the cost of resident purchase and installation of products that reduce water use, such as EPA WaterSense labeled low-flow toilets, Energy Star labeled washing machines, and WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, and WaterSense Partner-certified irrigation system audits.

Nineteen communities participated in this 2015-2017 program. Grant recipients and amounts included: Brooklyn Park $7,500, Chanhassen $37,500, Circle Pines $15,000, Cottage Grove $8,250, Eagan $50,000, Eden Prairie $37,500, Forest Lake $40,000, Fridley $30,000, Hugo $36,000, Mahtomedi $10,000, New Brighton $50,000, Newport $27,000, Plymouth $18,750, Rosemount $9,000, Shakopee $50,000, Victoria $9,000, White Bear Lake $49,125, White Bear Township $24,000, Woodbury $50,000.

  • 4,514 devices were replaced
    • 2,380 toilets
    • 1,190 irrigation controllers
    • 940 clothes washers
  • 4 irrigation system audits

From estimated water savings provided by grantees, approximately 52,000,000 gallons per year will be saved each year by these replacements. 

Source of Additional Funds

25% Local match plus additional funds ($155,125 across FY 2016 and FY 2017). Grant awards in excess of the appropriated $500,000 were funded by Clean Water Funds.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
M.L. 2015, Chapter 2, Art. 2, Sec. 9, Subd. (b)
Appropriation Language

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are for the water demand reduction grant program to encourage implementation of water demand reduction measures by municipalities in the metropolitan area to ensure the reliability and protection of drinking water supplies.

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$103,477
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

A pilot program for water efficiency was established with the goal of supporting technical and behavioral changes that improve municipal water use efficiency in the seven-county metropolitan area. Qualified activities include replacement of toilet with EPA WaterSense certified high-efficiency toilets, residential clothes washing machine replacements with Energy Star certified washing machines, irrigation system audits by EPA WaterSense certified professionals, and irrigation controller replacements with EPA WaterSense certified replacements. Proposed measurable outcomes are cost savings, water savings, and device replacements.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Outcomes (cost savings, water savings, and device replacements) were reported at the end of the project.

Source of Additional Funds

25% Local match plus additional funds ($155,125 across FY 2016 and FY 2017). Grant awards in excess of the appropriated $500,000 were funded by Clean Water Funds.

Project Manager
First Name
Henry
Last Name
McCarthy
Organization Name
Metropolitan Council
Street Address
390 Robert Street North
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55101
Phone
(651) 602-1946
Email
henry.mccarthy@metc.state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

390 N. Robert Street
St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone
651-602-1000