MESERB works to ensure that water quality standards that impact municipal wastewater facilities are based on open and transparent science, independently reviewed and result in meaningful benefits to water quality. Water quality standards issues that MESERB is currently focused on include:

• Wild Rice Sulfate
• Chloride (and other salty parameters)
• Total Nitrogen Standard
• Mercury
• River and Lake Euthrophication Standards
• Antidegradation

For information on current, future, and completed rulemaking projects, please visit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Public Rulemaking Docket.

MESERB is always looking for innovate implementation methods to address water quality regulations to achieve maximum environmental benefit while responsibly utilizing state and local resources. Such activities include:

• Water Quality Trading – Working to research and develop a more flexible trading framework including point to non-point trading.
• Integrative Planning – Working to develop a framework that allows municipalities to meet regulatory obligations while optimizing infrastructure investments through prioritization and sequencing of work.
• Plant Optimization – Working with members to identify, develop and share plant optimization techniques and technologies to maximize efficiency in existing infrastructure.

• Draft PFAS Monitoring Plan – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is currently seeking comment on its draft PFAS Monitoring Plan. Feedback may be submitted through an online form, which is accessible at survey.mn.gov/s.asp?k=163640641178. Comments are due Friday, Jan. 21.
• Class 1 Waters – Draft – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requests comment on amendments being considered to rules governing Water Quality Standards for Class 1 use – domestic consumption (i.e. waters that provide water for drinking, food processing, and similar). These protections apply to some specific surface waters that are listed in rule, and all groundwater. The MPCA is planning to amend the existing rules by significantly updating and clarifying protections for Class 1 waters, and also revising and updating the numeric and narrative WQS related to domestic consumption. An overview of the rule amendments MPCA is considering is provided in the rule concept document for this rulemaking and is available on the rulemaking webpage here. Interested persons or groups may submit written comments on these planned rule amendments and on other information related to this rulemaking until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 14.