Edmunds County Tribune -

WEB Water Development Association (WEB) is embarking on multi-year construction projects to increase system capacity and manage moratorium areas within the system.

After many years of planning and design, WEB has two landmark projects currently advertised for competitive bids: the Water Treatment Plant Expansion and the Parallel Mainline Pipe project.

During the drought of 2021, water systems across the region were stressed with high water usage. WEB’s water treatment plant reached its maximum rated capacity of about 11 million gallons per day (MGD) during that time. The Water Treatment Plant Expansion project will add an estimated six MGD of treatment capacity for a total capacity of up to 17 MGD. Improvements involved in the expansion include construction of a new treatment building, 1.5-million-gallon raw water regulating tank, 500,000-gallon clearwell, and 150,000-gallon washwater recovery basin, along with high service pump improvements and rehabilitating existing filters. When completed this expansion is projected to serve the water treatment needs within the system for the next 10-15 years, depending on the rate of growth within the system.

The PARALLEL MAINLINE PIPE PROJECT involves the construction of approximately 13.9 miles of 30-inch diameter water main pipe from the raw water intake on the Missouri River to the intersection of SD Highway 12 and SD Highway 83. The first 3.4-mile water main segment will convey adequate raw water from the intake to the water treatment plant. The second segment is a 10.5-mile portion of treated water main from the water treatment plant to the intersection of SD Highway 12 and SD Highway 83. The treated water main segment will allow additional water to be pumped from the treatment plant and into the distribution system to serve our members’ needs.

The Parallel Mainline Pipe project also includes a Bid Alternate to increase the pipe diameter from 30-inch to 48-inch to help serve the greater water needs of the region. If the Bid Alternate is accepted, funds from a grant received from the SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is projected to cover the costs.

These two projects are critical first steps on the road to improving existing moratoriums in the system. More projects will follow in the distribution system, including dozens of miles of PVC water main, several new pump stations, and upgrades to existing pump stations. All these projects are critical to providing adequate water service to our members now and into the future.

For more information on the above referenced projects, contact the respective engineering teams as follows:

• Water Treatment Plant Expansion, Banner Associates, Inc. (855) 323-6342

• Parallel Mainline Pipe, Bartlett & West (888) 200-6464