ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton still has water quality on his mind.

The Democratic governor was expected to unveil a plan Thursday to improve drinking water and wastewater facilities across the state. He’s likely to ask Minnesota lawmakers to borrow some funds to pay for those projects as part of a larger public construction package.

The state is staring down a backlog of decades-old waste treatment plants and sewers that require more than $1 billion in upgrades.

Dayton’s proposal comes on the heels of a controversial effort last year requiring farmers to implement larger buffers between crops and public waterways. The governor says improving water quality will be a top priority for the remainder of his term.