Tea, South Dakota — Progress continues on the pipeline to bring Missouri River aquifer water to northwest Iowa communities.
The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System is already serving several South Dakota and Minnesota systems, and two Iowa connections, both for Rock Rapids (whose water system sells water to Lyon & Sioux Rural Water as well). But the communities of Sheldon, Sibley, Hull, and Sioux Center are still not receiving water. On the upside, funding seems to be coming in at an appropriate pace to complete the project within the next few years.
The system has 32 miles of 16-inch diameter pipe left to construct for the Madison, South Dakota service line. Ten miles of 16-inch diameter pipe were previously constructed; five miles on the south end and five miles on the north end. These remaining 32 miles in the middle start just west of Crooks and head north.
On April 28 the Board of Directors awarded a $16-and-a-half million contract to Halme Construction of Lake Norden, SD to construct the southern 16 miles of 16-inch diameter PVC pipe.
Lewis & Clark Executive Director Troy Larson says that the low bid was unfortunately $4 million more than what was included in their original budget, but was not surprising for all the reasons we hear about every day. He says they expect these budget-busting bids to be “the new abnormal for the foreseeable future.”
In late May, bids will be opened for the final 16 miles of the Madison service line.
In late June, it is anticipated bids will be opened for 17 miles of 16-inch diameter pipe between Hull and Sheldon. Later this year contracts will also be awarded for a one million gallon storage reservoir east of Madison and a meter building at Sheldon. Larson says these are the last pieces of infrastructure needed in order to deliver water to Madison and Sheldon respectively.
