Watertown receives loans, grants of nearly $17M for water system improvements, landfill cell
Watertown has received several funding awards for upcoming projects, including the construction of a new landfill cell and development of a new well field.
In all, the city received nearly $16.9 million in loans and grants from five separate funding awards, according to a news release from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. A breakdown follows.
A $1.428 million clean water state revolving loan and a $212,000 grant for the construction of a new landfill cell and phased construction of storm water improvements near the landfill. A previously awarded Solid Waste Management Program grant will also be used to complete the work.
A $699,748 drinking water revolving loan and a $299,892 grant to replace or upgrade the lime slaker, supervisory control and data acquisition system, and chlorine generator equipment.
A $4.857 drinking water revolving loan and a $2 million grant to develop a new well field starting with four new wells, a control building and raw water lines connected to the Sioux Conifer Well Field raw water line.
A $3.4 million drinking water revolving loan and a $1.46 million grant to replace outdated water mains and improve water quality and flow.
A $2.34 million drinking water revolving loan and a $1 million grant to replace a 130-year old water main on Third Avenue Northwest to meet current and future water needs.
Mike Boerger, Watertown's wastewater and solid waste superintendent, said this funding awarded for the landfill will go toward this year's cell construction project, which is under way and set for completion later this summer. The previously awarded solid waste grant was for $400,000, he said.
Other regional projects also get funding
Other area awards included funding for the WEB Water Development Association and James Water Development District as well as the communities of Ipswich, Mobridge, Rosholt and Tulare.
The Aberdeen-based WEB Water Development Association received a $32.71 million grant to upsize its parallel water line from the water treatment plant to the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 and U.S. Highway 12 near Selby to meet growing water needs.
WEB provides treated Missouri River water to communities, residences and businesses throughout northeastern South Dakota.
The James River Water Development District received a $5 million grant to assist landowners with installing best management practices to improve water quality within the watershed by preventing nutrient and sediment runoff. The money and other state, local, federal and private landowner funds will be used to complete work throughout the watershed.
Ipswich received a $814,112 clean water loan and a $1.77 million grant to construct a storm sewer system to help alleviate the storm water issues throughout town.
Mobridge received a $7.123 million loan and a $3.55 million grant to replace its intake system in the Missouri River, replace water lines and either move the north water tower or install a ground storage tank with a booster pump station to increase water pressure.
Rosholt received a $1.4 million loan and a $752,500 grant to replace its existing water tower with a new, 75,000-gallon tower.
Tulare received a $1.45 million loan and a $1 million grant to increase treatment capacity, upgrade and repair its sanitary sewer collection system and extend the life of the current system. The town plans to replace the sanitary sewer, lift station and force mains to ponds. The project will also upgrade treatment ponds to a three-cell system and install new pond piping.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: watertown receives loans grants for water system improvements
