South Dakota allocates millions for water, wastewater projects

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has allocated $105 million to improve drinking water and wastewater systems across the state. Recipients will use the funds to build water treatment plants, install reservoirs, expand systems and improve infrastructure.

Some notable projects receiving funds include:

The WEB Water Development Association will receive the largest allocation – $10.5 million – to advance the Water Investment in Northern South Dakota (WINS) project. The project is a collaboration between WEB, Aberdeen and BDM Rural Water to increase water capacity and build a bulk water connection.

The Randall Community Water District will use $10 million to improve the city of Mitchell’s storage capacity and system water line redundancy. The project will include building booster stations, storage facilities and upgrading the Platte Water Treatment Plant.

Shared Resources, a joint effort between Minnehaha Community Water Corporation and the Big Sioux Community Water System, will receive $10 million. The project will include building a treatment plant, well field, distribution pipeline and two storage tanks.

The city of Brookings will spend $8 million to build a lime-softening water-treatment facility. To complete the project, the city will install raw and finished water lines to feed into the distribution system. Plans also include building six municipal wells and a transmission main.

Rapid City will receive $8 million to improve its wastewater treatment facility. Plans include installing secondary clarifiers and hydraulic improvements. The upgrades will ensure the city’s South Plant can assume all inflow while meeting permit limits and decommission the North Plant.

The funds come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and will be used to support water, wastewater, stormwater and nonpoint source projects. To date, the DANR has distributed $689 million in ARPA funds to advance water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the state.

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