Policy 3: Water Equity Policy
Access to and the benefits of safe, plentiful, and affordable water, including sustainable water utility and ecosystem services, are shared among all residents and communities by addressing inequities with community-centered solutions that go beyond harm reduction.
The Met Council recognizes that water inequities exist in the region, and we will continue to grow our understanding of these challenges throughout the life of this policy plan. Conversation and co-creation with residents and overburdened communities add context to and guide our policies and approaches, address past and ongoing harms, and work toward remedying injustices. The Met Council is committed to identifying and addressing water equity gaps and concerns within our organization including our role in past harms, building trust with residents and overburdened communities, and supporting with our planning and utility service partners to do the same.
Desired outcomes:
- All residents have access to safe and affordable water for drinking, recreation, cultural, and social, spiritual, or communal uses.
- The public and ecosystem health benefits of clean, safe surface and drinking waters are fully achieved in all communities in the region.
- Water utility and ecosystem services gaps are prioritized and addressed in overburdened communities.
- Historically marginalized and overburdened populations are centered in water planning and management conversations and decisions.
- Improvements to the regional wastewater conveyance and treatment systems enhance regional aesthetics and amenities as directed by communities.
Actions
Actions are grouped under the categories of Partner, Plan, and Provide to better tell the story of how policy produces results.
Partner
- Address environmental justice issues by working with overburdened communities and regional partner organizations.
- Engage with residents, prioritizing overburdened communities, and other local and regional partners to understand local perspectives and identify water utility and ecosystem services and benefit gaps in water planning and the delivery of regional water utility-related improvements.
- Build trust with Tribal nations and Tribal communities by amplifying and honoring Indigenous values, perspectives, and experiences in order to collaborate on solutions that ensure sustainable and equitable water outcomes for the region.
- Environmental Services will partner with other Met Council divisions on overlapping equity efforts to produce equitable water outcomes.
Plan
- Infrastructure investments and resource protection are prioritized to promote equitable public and ecosystem health outcomes and provide solutions to systemic issues that benefit communities beyond harm mitigation.
- Local comp plan updates are supported by broad community engagement to ensure community water values are reflected in long-range plans.
- Address water inequities within our work, including plan review, the design and operations of wastewater facilities, and the planning for and management of water and water services in the region.
Provide
- Met Council staff will convene communities and residents who have water equity and environmental justice concerns. We will work together to address policies and practices that cause injustices, strengthen our relationships, and build trust in our organization and the water services we and our partner organizations provide.
- Identify the diverse water experiences and values across the region to understand how overburdened communities and residents are impacted by the work of the Met Council and other water organizations to inform water planning, policies, and work approaches.
- Develop information and tools for the region that inform and support equitable water outcomes.
- Incorporate environmental justice and water equity considerations into funding and grant applications to address past barriers faced by historically disproportionately burdened groups.
