Water supply concerns surface at regional workshops
Participants urge more conservation, education about water issues
Water education and conservation. Inter-agency cooperation. Water-sharing projects. These were among the themes that emerged from three workshops in May and June hosted by the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Advisory Committee.
About 120 people attended the workshops. Participants were asked to share their most pressing concerns and identify opportunities related to supplying water to the region. The group addressed current issues, such as the need for education about efficient water use, as well as issues that might gain in prominence as the region grows.
Many participants expressed hope that the region would invest more in education and water conservation.
John Wells, of the Environmental Quality Board, leads the discussion at the workshop in Maple Grove.
“There are many best practices in my industry that could be better applied,” said Timothy Malooly, an irrigation consultant and Minnesota Landscape and Nursery Association member. “As landscaped areas grow along with the population, we need to make sure everyone knows about efficient water use. We also need community officials to be willing to try new methods that comply with the intent of regulations, rather than sticking to old practices simply because they are in the codes.”
Molly Shodeen, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hydrologist, said she was happy to participate in the workshops because city officials and staff members are on the front lines of this issue. “I think too many communities haven’t even put water supplies on their radar screen,” she said, “and many of them haven’t begun to focus on the issues related to groundwater.”
Another theme stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation during emergencies, and the need for sub-regional projects. “I am so glad to be here,” said Ed Sorensen, special projects manager from Eden Prairie. “It’s not a question of whether we'll facewater supply issues, it’s when. A decade ago, I didn’t believe we could ever have this conversation as a region.”
See a 13-page summary of public comments from the workshop (pdf).
To obtain email bulletins about the committee’s work, contact Christopher Elvrum.
The committee, comprising state and local officials, has 16 members. It is chaired by Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell. The committee was formed to advise the Council as it carries out water supply planning work authorized by the 2005 Minnesota Legislature. More about the Water Supply Advisory Committee.