MPCA drafts wastewater permit for Wright County, public comment open
Summary
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued a draft NPDES/SDS wastewater permit and Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the Annandale-Maple Lake-Howard Lake Wastewater Commission project. The project consolidates treatment facilities serving five Wright County communities (Annandale, Maple Lake, Howard Lake, Montrose, and Waverly) and aims to improve water quality in the Crow River by restricting phosphorus discharge. Public comment periods run through June 1, 2026 for the permit and May 7, 2026 for the EAW.
What changed
MPCA has drafted a combined wastewater treatment permit for a project that consolidates five Wright County communities' wastewater treatment facilities. The project reroutes wastewater from Montrose WWTF (including Waverly) to Annandale-Maple Lake-Howard Lake WWTF, adding aeration basins, a blower building, and stormwater pond to improve treatment quality and reduce phosphorus discharge to the Crow River.
The draft permit and EAW are now open for public comment. Construction begins fall 2026 with completion expected summer 2028. Stakeholders in affected Wright County communities and environmental groups may want to review discharge limits and environmental assessment findings before submitting comments.
What to do next
- Submit public comments on draft NPDES permit by June 1, 2026
- Submit comments on EAW by May 7, 2026
- Visit MPCA public comments page for submission details
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
News release
April 7, 2026
Contact
MPCA communications, news.mpca@state.mn.us
MPCA drafts wastewater permit for project that combines facilities in Wright County
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking public comment on a draft wastewater permit and accompanying environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) for a project that combines treatment facilities for five Wright County communities and improves water quality in the Crow River.
The Annandale-Maple Lake-Howard Lake Wastewater Commission (AMHWC) plans to consolidate treatment by rerouting wastewater from the Montrose Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF), which includes wastewater from Waverly, to the Annandale-Maple Lake-Howard Lake WWTF. Improvements include building more aeration basins, construction of a new “blower building” to pump in air, and a new stormwater pond.
The expanded facility will treat wastewater to a better quality than is currently being discharged into the North Fork of the Crow River from the Montrose WWTF. Permit limits will restrict phosphorus discharge.
Project construction will begin in fall 2026 and is expected to be substantially completed by summer 2028.
The draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) individual wastewater permit will be on public notice from March 31-June 1, 2026. The EAW for this project will be on public notice from April 7-May 7, 2026. Visit the MPCA’s public comments page to learn more or submit a comment.
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