DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Change Financial Eligibility Criteria For The Dakota County Safe Drinking Water For Private Well User Grant
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize changes to the financial eligibility criteria for the Dakota County Safe Drinking Water for Private Well Users Grant. Staff proposes to add a 50 percent cost-share grant option for private well users who do not meet low-income criteria.
SUMMARY
In July 2024, Dakota County received a $100,000 Clean Water Fund grant from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to help ensure safe drinking water for private well users. Private well users in the county are eligible for financial assistance to address drinking water quality concerns in their private wells. The Dakota County Safe Drinking Water for Private Well Users Grant (Grant) <https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Environment/WaterResources/WellsDrinkingWater/Pages/safe-drinking-water-grant.aspx>
provides funding to eligible landowners or renters to repair, reconstruct, or replace a well or treat drinking water supplies that are contaminated with arsenic, manganese, nitrate, coliform bacteria, or lead.
The Grant currently provides up to 100 percent financial assistance to Dakota County residents who:
1) Use well water as their primary source of drinking water;
2) Meet “low-income” criteria for the Minneapolis - St. Paul - Bloomington, Metro Area as defined by the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development
<https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RD-DirectLimitMap.pdf> guidelines; and
3) Exceed a MDH drinking water guideline for arsenic, manganese, nitrate, lead, or coliform bacteria.
Staff conducted direct outreach to over 300 private well users in Dakota County with known exceedances and promoted the Grant through numerous outlets, including the County Newsletter, electronic newsletters, social media, and direct mailings. As of June 2025, only six private well users have participated in the Grant program to receive a water treatment system. An additional eight private well users are in various stages of the application process. One of the main barriers for participation in the Grant program is inability to meet the low-income criteria, resulting in less than 15 percent of Grant funding being expended to date. However, there are still many private well users with drinking water quality concerns in need of water treatment.
To ensure expenditure of state grant dollars by June 30, 2027, staff propose to adjust the Grant cost-share and eligibility requirements to continue prioritizing low-income residents but include other private well users with drinking water quality concerns. Staff recommends keeping the current financial assistance for residents who meet low-income criteria while adding a 50 percent cost-share grant option for private well users who do not meet the low-income criteria, as shown in the table below.
|
Eligible Activities |
Cost-share: If well user meets low-income criteria |
Cost-share: If well user does not meet low-income criteria |
|
Well repair, reconstruction, or replacement |
Up to 100% of the cost, not to exceed $10,000 |
Up to 50% of the cost, not to exceed $5,000 |
|
Well Water Treatment Equipment and Installation |
Up to 100% of the cost, not to exceed $3,000 |
Up to 50% of the cost, not to exceed $1,500 |
|
Well Disinfection |
Up to 100% of the cost, not to exceed $500 |
Up to 50% of the cost, not to exceed $250 |
The proposed changes have been discussed with MDH and are authorized under the terms of the state grant.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends adjusting the Grant cost-share and eligibly requirements to add a 50 percent cost-share grant option for private well users who do not meet low-income criteria.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
No fiscal impact. All funding is provided from a MDH Safe Drinking Water for Private Well Users Grant awarded to Dakota County in 2024. Adjusting the cost-share eligibility requirements will help ensure expenditure of funding prior to expiration of the MDH grant on June 30, 2027.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County received a $100,000 Clean Water Fund grant from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to help ensure safe drinking water for private well users; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County Safe Drinking Water for Private Well Users Grant (Grant) provides funding to eligible landowners or renters to repair, reconstruct, or replace a well or treat drinking water supplies that are contaminated with arsenic, manganese, nitrate, coliform bacteria, or lead; and
WHEREAS, the Grant currently provides up to 100 percent financial assistance to Dakota County residents who use well water as their primary source of drinking water; meet “low-income” criteria as defined by the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development guidelines; and exceed a MDH drinking water guideline for arsenic, manganese, nitrate, lead, or coliform bacteria; and
WHEREAS, there are still many private well users with drinking water quality concerns in need of water treatment who may not meet the “low-income” criteria; and
WHEREAS, staff proposes to adjust the Grant cost-share and eligibility requirements to ensure expenditure of funding prior to the expiration of the Grant on June 30, 2027; and
WHEREAS, the Grant will continue to provide up to 100 percent cost share for private well users who meet low-income criteria and add an option to provide up to 50 percent cost-share for private well users who do not meet the low-income criteria; and
WHEREAS, the proposed changes are authorized under the terms of the state grant.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes staff to adjust the Safe Drinking Water for Private Well Users Grant to add an option to provide up to 50 percent cost-share for private well users who do not meet low-income criteria.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-062; 2/6/24
ATTACHMENTS
None.
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Nikki Stewart
Author: Valerie Neppl