MADISON S.D. (KELO) –South Dakota had its final water pipeline hookup from the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System.
The city of Madison hosted a Ribbon cutting ceremony for hookup in Madison with Senator John Thune, Senator Mike Rounds, and Congressman Dusty Johnson were all in attendance
Senator John Thune said “I remember when we were authorizing it. It was kind of the last of the big rural water construction projects. It took a lot of work from the team at Lewis and Clark but South Dakota is finally hooked up.”
Senator Mike Rounds said, “Water development is economic development without water you don’t get the economic development that keeps people here in South Dakota.”
Congressman Dusty Johnson said” The state is going to have to count on both Democrats and Republicans for several years to ensure they get their water. It is something both sides can agree on everybody needs water.”
The city of Madison signed up for the Lewis and Clark waterline in January of 1990. However, federal funding ran out, putting their part of the project on hold.
Troy Larson, Executive Director of Lewis and Clark said they were excited about South Dakota getting its water, stating that Madison is the 19th of 20 members left to be connected.
Larson added while South Dakota might be fully hooked up they have plenty of work to do.
“We have to connect Sibley Iowa, and the 3rd and final phase of the water treatment plant,” said Larson. “We have an expansion on the way to get us from 40 million gallons to 60 million and we are looking at expanding the system again.”
Lewis and Clark hopes to get Sibley Iowa connected in late fall and to get its water treatment plant operational in 2028.
Larson said it’s good to see they aren’t the only project hooking water up to rural areas.
“The Missouri River is an incredible untapped resource for the state, we are only using about 5% of the water there,” said Larson. “Western Dakota Regional Water System is taking water out west and Dakota Mainstem which covers 2/3 of eastern South Dakota. So its good to see we aren’t alone anymore.”
The city of Madison has had its water rerouted since 2017 through the Big Sioux Water System up until August.
Larson said its been a long road but they hoped to have paved the trail for others in the future.
“If there was a pitfall to step in we have stepped in it, so if you are the first one like us it’s gonna be a slog,” said Larson. “We hope we have blazed a trail that’s not quite as difficult for others to follow as it was for us
