NEAR VERMILLION, SD (KTIV) -- -
It took 22 years of work, but water is now flowing through the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System. Its treatment plant, near Vermillion, South Dakota, began pumping water Monday.
That water is reaching about half of its member cities and water systems. But the others, many in Siouxland, are sitting high and dry. And, it may be years until their thirst is quenched.
Hear that? It's the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System making millions of gallons of drinkable water.
"Oh it's huge," said Operations Manager Jim Auen.
Auen says water is now running to 11 of their 20 member cities and rural water systems, spread across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. He says the facility will wet their whistle, while ridding them of their water worries.
"Poor quality source waters that they have, or inadequate volumes. The Lewis and Clark Water System is going to answer both of those problems," said Auen.
For Beresford, South Dakota, one of the 11 switched on, the Lewis and Clark system will replace their current treatment system. It'll also wash away their fear of running out.
"We were pulling out of a aquifer obviously. We thought this would be a supply of water that would be an endless supply," said Mayor Jim Fedderson.
Most other Siouxland communities will have to wait for their taste though. Places like Hull, Sibley, Sioux Center and Sheldon, in Iowa, may not see water from the new system for years.
Auen says that's because congress doesn't see the system as a high priority. So, the project lacks the nearly $200 million of federal funding needed to build 200 miles of pipeline. Right now, they've secured a drop in the bucket, just $4.5 million.
Auen says they could get more in fiscal year 2013, but wont know for months.
"Traditionally Congress, for the last five or six years, they've not passed a budget in a timely fashion. So, it could be as late as January or February of next year until we know," said Auen.
When it's finished, the $462 million project is expected to serve about 300,000 people.
