Minnesota Success Stories
Growth prompts action on drinking and wastewater systems
(pdf, 2.14mb)
Where: Beaver Bay, Minn., pop. 175
Problem: Failing water infrastructure threatened the town’s future for tourism and vacation-home growth
Solution: With MAP’s help, Beaver Bay pursed funding and construction of new systems.
With its location on Minnesota’s scenic North Shore of Lake Superior, Beaver Bay’s economic base was changing from logging and iron ore mining to tourism and seasonal residents. In 2003, the town began working with MAP to update and expand its aging wastewater system to accommodate growth.
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While planning was underway, the town was notified by the Minnesota Department of Health Public that it wasn’t meeting water-quality standards. So the city installed equipment to monitor and report on turbidity of the drinking water. The system then began to fail and the city council opted to replace it as well.
Staff from Midwest Assistance Program helped the city prepare the application for the health department’s project priority list, which allowed Beaver Bay to participate in the state revolving fund program. With MAP’s help, the city also requested funding from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. Then MAP walked the city council through the process of selecting a project engineer.
In 2007, Beaver Bay participated in a joint pilot water study project with the Minnesota Department of Health. The study tested the microfiltration system that was proposed to treat surface water. Construction began on the infrastructure projects in 2008, with additional funding from the state drinking water revolving fund.
For more information, contact:
Phone: 952-758-4334
Fax: 952-758-4336
E-mail: map@map-inc.org
MAP is a member of the RCAP network and an equal-opportunity lender, provider and employer.