Minnetrista outlines $26 million water treatment plant plan to meet demand and new manganese standard

Mayor Lisa Whalen told residents Minnetrista needs a new water treatment plant to increase capacity, meet updated health standards and provide resilience for both drinking water and fire protection.

Whalen said the city currently operates near peak capacity and needs about 600 additional gallons per minute of treated water; planners propose building a plant sized to roughly 2,100 gallons per minute so the system will meet projected growth into about 2050.

Background and why it matters: Whalen cited the 2021 drought and high summer demands, steps the city has taken (a new 500,000‑gallon tower on Highway 7, a sod ordinance, a stormwater ordinance and a water‑conservation campaign) and a change in the Minnesota Department of Health’s manganese guidance that makes treatment necessary before well water can be…