Vermillion, S.D. (Sioux County Radio) — Even as a major water system expansion moves toward completion in 2027, officials say they’re already planning the next phase to meet long-term demand.
The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System is currently finishing Phase 3 of its base system, which will allow all 20 member communities — including Sheldon, Sioux Center, Hull, Sibley, and Rock Rapids — to access their full reserved water supply.
Executive Director Troy Larson says the work doesn’t stop there.
Next Phase: 2030 Expansion
Larson says the system is moving forward with what it calls its first expansion, which will increase overall capacity from 44 million gallons per day to 60 million gallons per day. That phase is expected to be completed by 2030.
He says the timeline reflects how long large-scale water projects take to complete and why planning has to start early.
He says that timeline is why the system is already looking ahead to future water needs over the next 40 years. That long-term planning could lead to an even larger expansion in the future.
Future Demand
Larson says early estimates show member communities may need nearly 95 million additional gallons of water per day between 2030 and 2070, potentially bringing the system’s total capacity to about 155 million gallons per day.
The price tag for that potential second expansion is estimated at around $2.5 billion.
Despite the size of those numbers, Larson says the focus remains on preparing for future generations.
Regional Impact
Lewis & Clark currently serves 20 communities across southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota.
Larson says the system continues to focus on reliability, water quality, and ensuring communities have the resources they need to grow.
KIWA Staff Photo
