The Biden administration’s new budget includes more than $9 million for a South Dakota-based water project.
Lewis and Clark Regional Water System is a non-profit provider to 15 communities in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. The system of wells and pipes has been under construction for almost 20 years.
Executive Director Troy Larson says the proposed funding is a step in the right direction.
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel. I haven’t been able to say for many years how long it would take us to finish. I can say now based on recent levels of federal funding if that continues that we should be completed in approximately 2030, 2031. But I want to emphasize that all depends on continuing to get roughly 18 million dollars a year in federal funding.”
Five more communities are waiting for a connection to the system. That will cost about $130 million.
The nine million dollars in the Biden budget would pay for pipeline between Hull and Sheldon in Iowa. The nonprofit also plans to construct a water tower, meter building, and pump station near Hull and Sheldon.