City staff flags state proposal to bar stormwater reuse; Minnetrista may oppose with resolution

City Administrator Jasper Krugal told the Minnetrista City Council on June 15 that the state plumbing board and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry are considering rules that would restrict or bar use of stormwater ponds for irrigation. Krugal said the change is drawing opposition from watershed districts, the League of Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota Farmers Union, and he warned the restriction could prompt developers to drill wells instead of using stormwater reuse.

"There is some movement through the Minnesota plumbing board and the Department of Labor and Industry… They want to not allow storm water reuse for irrigation," Krugal said, summarizing concerns that motivated the proposed change. He said the plumbing board’s main concern is preventing backflow and the risk that bacteria could enter potable systems, but he added the city uses backflow prevention and separate systems that can be isolated.

Krugal said his office is consulting the city’s building official and that he expects to bring a draft resolution to the council’s July 20 meeting opposing the state proposal. "There might be a resolution that I'll bring forward… where we don't support this," he said, and noted that outright prohibition could reduce local water-conservation options and potentially increase groundwater pumping.

Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about how local systems differ from other communities where systems are more interconnected and expressed interest in the draft resolution and additional input from the building official. Krugal named several organizations that have expressed opposition, including watershed districts, the League of Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota Farmers Union.

What happens next: staff will consult the building official, refine a draft resolution opposing the plumbing board proposal if appropriate, and return the item to the council at the July 20 meeting.