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Stormwater Reuse Projects

The City of Hugo is a local leader in stormwater reuse. The City has facilitated 10 projects in which stormwater is stored and reused for irrigation on public and private land. As of 2023, these projects had reused 70 million gallons of stormwater, substantially reducing the use of drinking water for irrigation. These projects provide a variety of benefits in addition to groundwater conservation: 

  • Flood control and climate resiliency 

  • Help meet regulatory requirements for water quality and infiltration 

  • Lessen need for new water infrastructure, such as wells and water towers 

  • Lower water bills for irrigators 

 

 Project Highlights

2022:  

The City completed construction of the County Road 8 stormwater reuse project in 2022. The project connected new and existing irrigation systems for green space near County Road 8 to a nearby stormwater pond. The project irrigates County Road 8 medians, 147th Street, Keystone Senior Living, Jack Pine Place Apartments, Lions Park, and City Hall. By utilizing stormwater for irrigation, the City is able to improve the water quality of downstream surface water sources such as Peltier Lake, while also decreasing the total amount of groundwater pumped from nearby aquifers. The project was estimated to reduce the annual amount of groundwater pumped by the City by 14 million gallons, and as of 2023 the project has used 15.2 million gallons of stormwater rather than groundwater. 

This project received $618,400 of grant funding, covering 88% of its cost. The project received a $392,400 Clean Water Fund grant from Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Additional funding sources include a $50,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council and $176,000 in matching funds provided by the Rice Creek Watershed District.  

2021: 

In 2021, the City completed a project with the Water’s Edge Homeowners Association to connect the neighborhood’s existing irrigation system to a nearby stormwater pond. The project irrigates green space in Water’s Edge, Oneka Prairie, Prairie Village Villas, and Oneka Parkway medians. Before converting to stormwater reuse, the Water’s Edge HOA spent around $120,000 annually on irrigation. With reuse, the HOA’s irrigation costs have significantly decreased to around $60,000 annually. The project received $419,380 in grants, including $200,00 from the Metropolitan Council, $78,760 from the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources, and $140,620 from Rice Creek Watershed District. 

2016: 

The City completed a project in Beaver Ponds Park in Fall 2016.  The park used hundreds of thousands of gallons of potable water for irrigation each year and now, the system is set up to pump stormwater out of a nearby pond to irrigate the park. 

2015: 

The City completed a project at the Oneka Ridge Golf Course in Fall 2015.  A large stormwater pond was excavated along the 18th tee and fairway and now collects stormwater runoff from 915 acres of land. From there, stormwater is pumped and used by the golf course for irrigation instead of using groundwater. Excess water beyond that needed for irrigation is sent to an infiltration system in the southwest corner of the golf course. The RCWD expects that this project will reduce the golf course's dependency on groundwater for irrigation by 40-50%. 

This project was funded by a $497,100 Clean Water Fund grant from Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. $113,700 in matching funds were provided by the RCWD and the City of Hugo. Including in-kind staff support provided by all three project partners, the total project cost was approximately $689,000. 

To find out more about this project, please click here to be directed to the Rice Creek Watershed District Website.