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Environmental Services

Cost-effective wastewater treatment and environmental protection

The Council's Environmental Services division protects the public health and environment, and provides customers with efficient and effective water resources management.Major responsibilities and achievements include:

Water resources management

• Treat up to 300 million gallons of wastewater daily at eight regional treatment plants
• Continue to achieve near-perfect compliance with federal and state clean water standards
• Maintain wastewater service rates consistently below the national average
• Own and maintain approximately 600 miles of regional sewers that collect flow from 5,000 miles of sewers owned by 104 communities
• Work with approximately 800 industrial clients to substantially reduce the amount of pollution entering our wastewater collection system

Pollution prevention and education

• Develop partnerships with numerous public, private and nonprofit groups in a variety of technical assistance and public education strategies for a cleaner environment
• Help reduce water pollution through public education of customers and the public

Water supply planning and protection

• Provide water supply and water resources planning for three major watersheds: the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix
• Coordinate watershed protection for 46 sub-watersheds