Total Phosphorus

• 2000 Baseline Input: 4,380 tons per year
• 2000 Baseline Output: 3,840 tons per year
• 2000 Baseline Difference: -540 tons (-12 percent)
• 2030 Target: Output is no more than in 2000 and output-input difference is held to 0.

Total Nitrogen

• 2000 Baseline Input: 80,800 tons per year
• 2000 Baseline Output: 80,900 tons per year
• 2000 Baseline Difference: 100 tons per year (0 percent)
• 2030 Target: Output is no more than in 2000 and output-input difference is held to 0.

Total Suspended Solids

• 2000 Baseline Input: 1,320,000 tons per year
• 2000 Baseline Output: 956,000 tons per year
• 2000 Baseline Difference:  -364,000 tons per year (-28 percent)
• 2030 Target:  Output is no more than in 2000 and output-input difference is held to 0
• Annual Indicator: Rolling 10-year median annual suspended solids load

Due to the Twin Cities’ location at the northern end of the Mississippi River, MCES wastewater treatment plants must meet stringent EPA operating standards. MCES treatment plants continue to have a near-perfect compliance record, while maintaining rates that are lower than the average for similar-sized sanitary districts. Wastewater treatment plants in the region, and regulations on industrial wastewater, have done a good job of removing pollution from the wastewater stream. However, water quality is also impacted by nonpoint pollution sources (both urban and agricultural), and by climate variations.

The indicators for phosphorus, nitrogen, and suspended solids are determined by taking the sum of the loads from the Minnesota River at Jordan, the Rum River in Anoka, the Mississippi River in Anoka, and the St. Croix River in Stillwater, and comparing them to the load at the Mississippi River at Red Wing.  Optimally, the difference between the output and input mass would be zero or less.  However, there is a statistical uncertainty of about ±10 percent on both the input and output mass. Pollutant loading varies from year to year.  Use of a 10-year median as an indicator helps to minimize, though not eliminate, variability from annual climate differences and other natural sources.

The output levels of all three pollutants measured were lower in 2007 than in 2000.  Some variability from year to year is expected, due to weather conditions and sampling error.  Despite some variability, the general trend over 2000-2007 has been downward (improving).  This meets one part of the Council’s goal.  However, part of the improvement is due to less pollution in the water entering the region.  For phosphorus, we have not maintained output levels at the same level as in the incoming water.  However, the margin by which output levels exceeded input levels narrowed in 2007. 

Source:  Metropolitan Council Environmental Services

Water Supply

Goal: The metropolitan area’s water resources are adequate to supply future water demands without adverse impacts.

Baseline Input:  Past water use information will be used to project future demand.  An assessment of water supplies available to each community has begun but is not yet complete for all subregions.

The increases in per capita water use in 2006 and 2007 were likely  due to lower rainfall resulting in higher water demand for watering.  Higher per capita use in 2003 and 2004 also corresponded with lower rainfall.

Source:  Metropolitan Council analysis of data from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Another indicator of water availability measures groundwater withdrawals compared to recharge.  Metropolitan Council has estimated that approximately 28 percent of the water recharged to aquifers annually is withdrawn.  This measure does not reflect localized impacts of withdrawals, or the amount needed for groundwater discharge to replenish surface water features.  Much of the water that is currently being withdrawn has been recharged over decades—but this measure provides a general sense of how much of the region’s annual input is being consumed.

Metropolitan Council continues to assess the relationship between water resource availability and demand.  As required by the Minnesota State Legislature, the Council is undertaking a number of planning activities to ensure the long-term sustainability of water supplies within the region.  The work will culminate in a water supply master plan in late 2008.

Source:  Source:  Metropolitan Council

Air Quality – Pollutants

Goal: Maintain federal ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone and fine particulates.

• 2002 Baseline: Zero violations
• 2030 Target: Zero violations
• 2003: Zero violations
• 2004: Zero violations
• 2005: Zero violations
• 2006: Zero violations

Source:  Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Air Quality Index                        

Number of days that air quality was above 100 (unhealthy for sensitive groups)

In planning for improvements to the transportation system, Metropolitan Council conforms to 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments for attaining federal air quality standards. Prior to 1999, the Region was classified as not in attainment for carbon monoxide.

An area can be in compliance with federal air quality standards, and yet have some days when its air quality is rated “unhealthy”, by the US EPA’s uniform index.  Repeated alert days for a pollutant may be an indicator of a rising risk.  Hot summers provide conditions for higher ozone levels and more alert days. 

In 2007, there were eight air quality alerts for ozone.  Only one alert was issued for fine particulates.

Source:  Minnesota Pollution Control Agency