Governor Dayton has made water a signature issue of his administration, calling for a Year of Water Action.

Despite the state’s abundant water resources, more than 40 percent of Minnesota’s waters are listed as impaired or polluted, according to state agencies monitoring and protecting our water resources. Water treatment plants and clean drinking water systems are also in serious disrepair. Some communities still rely on wooden pipes, installed over 100 years ago, for their drinking water. In fact, Minnesota is $11 billion behind in just maintaining our aging water treatment and delivery systems over the next 20 years. Initial testing indicates that 60 percent of the wells in Central Minnesota may not provide safe drinking water.

This is where the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) can have a big impact. The PFA, which operates as part of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, provides financing and technical assistance to help communities, such as Morris in Stevens County, build and maintain infrastructure. The PFA administers and oversees the financial management of three revolving loan funds and other programs.

Recent PFA activity:

• Phosphorus is common in many wastewater discharges and a pollutant that has the potential to negatively impact the quality of Minnesota’s water. The PFA will help St. Cloud pay for $24.3 million in water treatment improvements that will reduce these discharges.
• Winsted, a city of about 2,400 people in McLeod County, will see improvements to its wastewater treatment plant.
• Echo, pop. 278 people in Yellow Medicine County, will replace underground water and sewer pipes with $4 million in PFA grants and loans.
• The Meeker County community of Grove City will see high priority wastewater improvements with $3.5 million.
• A new water treatment facility is in the future for the western Minnesota of Breckenridge. The PFA awarded $9 million for the construction of a lime-softening water treatment plant.

Bottom line: The PFA has financed $4.5 billion in public infrastructure projects throughout Minnesota since its beginning in 1987.

Doing Business the Dutch Way: Dec 12 Event Includes Water and Med Sector Innovations

The Minnesota Trade Office is hosting an event on Dec. 12 that will provide an overview of opportunities in the Netherlands and sectors that are a good match for Minnesota – including the water and medical sectors.

The water technology discussion will include an overview of Aquatech Amsterdam, one of the world's largest water tech trade shows, and opportunities for the 2019 event; a briefing on the Netherland's ecosystem for the water industry; and opportunities in the Dutch market. There will also be a presentation on the Dutch medical sector.

This event will be held from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tues., Dec. 12 at Stoel Rives Law Firm, Minneapolis.

Speakers are Special Guest Dutch Deputy Consul General Bianca Oudshoff from the Netherlands Consulate General in Chicago; Peter Cartwright of Cartwright Consulting; Jonathan Ploeger, research manager with Medical Alley; and MTO Regional Trade Manager Steve Riedel.

[Note: This event takes the place of "Water Technology Roundtable – Aquatech Amsterdam and Netherlands Water Sector Briefing."]

Questions? Contact Steve Riedel at 651-259-7494.

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