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Empire Wastewater Treatment Plant

Built in 1979, the Empire Plant is the only MCES plant discharging to the scenic Vermillion River in the southeast metro area. Biosolids from the plant are processed and spread twice yearly on nearby farm fields, including some owned by MCES and leased to local farmers.

The Empire Plant has a design capacity to treat 12 million gallons of wastewater per day. To meet growth in the plant's service area, planning is well under way to double the size of the plant by the end of 2004. In recognizing that doubling the discharge of treated wastewater could harm the environmentally sensitive Vermillion River, MCES has chosen to pump the treated wastewater through a 13-mile pipe to be built from the Empire Plant to the Mississippi River in Rosemount.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Information

• Located in Empire Township, Minnesota
• Type: Advanced secondary with chlorination/dechlorination
• Capacity: 12 million gallons per day
• Discharges to: Vermillion River
• Communities served: 5
• Population served: 99,000
• Interceptors to plant: 16 miles

For more information about the Empire

Wastewater Treatment Plant, please contact Tim O'Donnell at 651-602-1269 or at tim.odonnell@metc.state.mn.us