Newsletter July 2013

October 2013 | Volume 9, Issue 2
Water Rights
Protecting a
Vital Resource
Water Systems
Move Toward AMR
DIY: Home
Leak Detection
System Spotlight:
Clark Rural Water System
Annual Meeting Notice | DENR Recognition | Notice of Vacancies
Manager’s Report
Jake Fitzgerald
Manager
West River/Lyman-Jones Directors
Paul Goldhammer, President
Joseph Hieb, Vice-President
Dodie Schmitz Garrity, Sec./Treas.
Kirk Cordes, Director
Richard L. Doud, Director
Jim Schaefer, Director
Veryl Prokop, Director
Dave Fuoss, Director
Casey Krogman, Director
Lorne Smith, Director
Marion Matt, Liaison for West River Water
Development District
MURDO PROJECT OFFICE
307 Main Street
PO Box 407
Murdo, SD 57559
Jake Fitzgerald ...................................... Manager
Amy Kittelson.............................Office Manager
Kati Venard .............................. Billing Secretary
Brandon Kinsley ...................... O & M Foreman
Ed Venard ............................................... O & M
Steve Baker ............................................. O & M
Brian Flynn............................................. O & M
S
ergeant First Class John Kramer
is a Philip resident and is
employed by West River/LymanJones Rural Water Systems, Inc. as a
Water Operations Specialist. Kramer
is a member of the South Dakota
National Guard’s 152nd Combat
Sustainment Support Battalion which
has been deployed to Afghanistan. A
deployment ceremony of the 152nd
was held in Pierre, SD on July 6th and
the unit left for Fort Hood, TX for
theatre specific training on July 7th.
They were scheduled to leave midAugust for Afghanistan. The current
anticipation of return is February
of next year. WR/LJ Rural Water
appreciates and supports Kramer’s
service to the South Dakota National
Guard, and looks forward to his safe
return.
Ph: 605-669-2931 or 1-800-851-2349
Fax : 605-669-3022
E-Mail Address:
wrlj_ruralwater@goldenwest.net
PHILIP FIELD OFFICE
PO Box 144
Philip, SD 57567
Mike Vetter.............................. O & M Foreman
Eddie Dartt ............................................ O & M
John Kramer ........................................... O & M
Nick Konst ............................................. O & M
Ph: 605-859-2829 • Fax: 605-859-2859
Statement of Non-Discrimination
I n ac c ord anc e w ith F ed eral law and U . S . Dep artment
of A g ric u ltu re p olic y , th is ins titu tion is p roh ibited f rom
d is c riminating on th e bas is of rac e, c olor, national orig in, ag e,
disa bility , relig ion, se x , and f amilial sta tu s. T o f ile a co mpl aint of
discr imination, wr ite USDA,
Directo r, O f f ic e of C ivil R ig h ts, 140
I ndepen den ce A v enu e, S.W ., Wash ing ton, D.C. 2059410
or ca ll
( 80)
795327(
v oice) o r( 20)
7206382(
T DD) .
2 | October 2013
WR/LJ Manager Jake Fitzgerald presents Bureau of Reclamation Engineer Harold
“Bud” Stiles with an award plaque and gift for his 20+ years of work with WR/LJ
and the Mni Wiconi Project. The Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for project
oversight. Bud played a key role in the development and construction of the half
billion dollar Mni Wiconi Rural Water Supply Project. Bud decided to retire at the
end of May 2013. Congratulations Bud!
WEST RIVER/LYMAN-JONES RURAL WATER SYSTEMS, INC.
2012 Annual Meeting Minutes (Draft)
T
he 23rd Annual Meeting was held at the Community
Center in Wall, South Dakota on Wednesday, October
10, 2012.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
The meeting was called to order by President Paul Goldhammer
at 2:30 p.m. (MT) and a quorum was declared present.
Manager Fitzgerald read the annual meeting notice as published
in the October 2012 newsletter and the local legal newspapers,
and the official proof of mailing statement that indicated 1,784
newsletters were mailed from the U.S. Post Office at Aberdeen,
SD on September 14, 2012.
Attorney Larson conducted the election of Directors and declared
that, having no opposition, incumbent Directors Jim Schaefer –
Zone 1A, Richard L. Doud – Zone 2, Veryl Prokop – Zone 3, and
Joseph Hieb – Zone 5A were re-elected to the Board of Directors.
President Goldhammer called for old business. There was none.
President Goldhammer called for new business. There was none.
Drawings were held for door prizes.
There being no further business to address, President Goldhammer
adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m. (MT).
Amy Kittelson, Recording Secretary
Manager Fitzgerald followed with introductions of WR/LJ
Directors from the various areas, staff, and consultants.
The minutes of the October 19, 2011, Annual Meeting were
published in the October 2012 issue of Quality on Tap newsletter
that is mailed to all members. President Goldhammer asked for
a motion to approve the minutes. A motion was duly made and
seconded to approve the minutes as mailed. Motion Carried.
Manager Jake Fitzgerald gave construction and funding updates.
He concluded by recognizing the office staff for the conversion
of self-read, self-bill to automatic billing and the O&M staff for
100% safe drinking water compliance.
fficial Notice
of Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water
Systems, Inc.will be held Wednesday, October 9, 2013, at the
Wall Community Center in Wall, SD.
Dave Larson, Attorney for West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water
reported to the members that WR/LJ is not in litigation. A motion
was duly made and seconded to approve Manager Fitzgerald and
Attorney Larson’s reports. Motion Carried.
Registration - 3:30 MT
Business Meeting - 4:00 MT
“Pipe Dream to Reality” Celebration - 5:00 MT
Meal - 6:00 MT
Celebrating 20 Years of Service
1993 - 2013
Notice Of Director Vacancies
West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water Systems, Inc
The West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water
Systems, Inc. Board of Directors in
accordance with By-laws, Article VIII,
Section I, announces the vacancies of
the following Director positions effective
October 9, 2013:
Zone 3A – Rural Jones County; current
Director David Fuoss
Zone 5 – Municipal at Large –
Municipalities of Haakon and Jackson
Counties; Stanley County north of the
Bad River: Pennington County east of the
Cheyenne River; current Director Paul
Goldhammer
Eligibility for Nomination:
1. Must be a member of the corporation
2. Must have contracted for a
service tap in area to represent
3. Must file a petition no later
than 4:00 P.M. (CT)
September 30, 2013, at the
rural water system office in
Murdo, S.D.
4. Petition must be signed by
no less than 15 members
5. No proxy voting allowed
6. Nominations will not be
allowed from the floor at the
annual meeting unless no petitions have
been filed for a directorship
Nominating petitions can be acquired by
contacting:
Fuoss
Goldhammer
West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water
Systems, Inc.
PO Box 407, 307 Main St.
Murdo, SD 57559
Phone: 605-669-2931
October 2013 | 3
Prairie
Proud
By Lon Tonneson
Editor’s note: This article was first published in the Dakota
Farmer and is being reprinted with permission.
A
chicken eats only
about 1 bushel of
feed per year. But at
Dakota Layers, Flandreau,
S.D., the bushels add up
quickly.
Dakota Layers will house
1.3 million hens by 2013.
It buys about 1 million
bushels of corn, more than
10,000 tons of soybean
Scott Ramsdell, CEO
meal and more than 2,000
tons of distillers grains each year to feed its birds.
“It’s chicken feed,” quips Scott Ramsdell, Dakota Layers
president and CEO and a fifth-generation farmer from
Flandreau. “But it adds up.”
Organized in 1999 as a cooperative to add value to
members’ corn and soybeans, Dakota Layers is now a
limited liability partnership owned by more than 100
Moody County, SD area farm families.
Its facilities – six barns housing seven hen flocks, two
manure barns and an egg processing center – are among
the most modern in the U.S.
Dakota Layers washes, sizes, packs and chills about
85,000 dozen eggs per day and sells 30 million dozen
eggs per year throughout the U.S. It also sells enough
composted chicken litter as fertilizer to cover 8,000
4 | October 2013
acres. It is the larger of two commercial egg farms in the Dakotas.
Dakota Layers recently built a new $4 million barn with an enrichable
colony hen housing system that meets new animal welfare standards for
California and many other states. The enrichable colony system would
qualify under legislation being proposed by United Egg Producers and the
Humane Society of the United States for hen housing.
With the new barn, Dakota Layers increased its flock from 1 million to 1.3
million birds. Theadditional 300,000 birds are expected to have a significant
impact on profits since Dakota Layers will be able to process the additional
eggs without investing in more processing equipment.
“Selling eggs is a tough, tough business,” says Ramsdell, who also owns
Ramsdell F and M, a fertilizer, chemical and propane company, and JC
Ramsdell Enviro Services, a secondary containment construction firm. He
became president and CEO of Dakota Layers about seven years ago.
“Margins are extremely tight, and a small percentage change in capacity
utilization can make a big diffe ence in your bottom line,” he says.
Dakota Layers also recently purchased two distribution centers in California
so that it can sell directly to West Coast buyers. One of the distributors it
purchased – Rosemary Farm – is a legacy brand in California, and Dakota
Layers has expanded into high-value direct marketing of eggs to consumers
and retailers.
Dakota Layers’ South Dakota roots and ownership by family farmers are
strong selling points in California, says Dennis Wiese, Dakota Layers chief
operating offic . The concept is reflected in the company’s cartons, which
carry the logo “Dakota Layers’ Eggs – Prairie Proud.”
More efficient
Dakota Layers is working to generate electricity from the litter the additional
birds in the new barn will produce. It is mixing the dry litter with wetter
manure from a nearby dairy and running it through a manure digester. If
the digester works, Dakota Layers will capture the methane and use it to
produce electricity for its barns. Some of the power may be sold to go back
on the electrical grid.
Dakota Layers is one of only a handful of poultry farms in the U.S.
experimenting with such technology.
“We are always looking for ways to become more efficient to make the birds
more comfortable and productive, and to reduce our environmental
footprint,” Ramsdell says.
Home Leak Detection
W
ater leaks in your home can literally drain money out of
your wallet. Finding or narrowing down where a water
leak may be occurring can also help save money on a
professional who would charge you for the time to locate the
leak. Just know that not all of the leak detection techniques
highlighted in this article will find all leaks, but even finding
an approximate location of your home leak will help your hired
professional finish the job mo e efficient .
Hot Water Tanks
Check the pressure relief valve on your hot water tank. Sometimes
these valves are plumbed directly into a drain and can leak
without you knowing. Take care to avoid being scalded when
working around your hot water heater. If you can, remove the
drainpipe to check for a leak by listening. A “hissing” sound
would indicate a leak.
Important! If you suspect the leak is in your water heater – call
an expert. NEVER stick a screwdriver in there – it is very
dangerous and you could cross wires or puncture the tank.
In-Home Water Meter
If your water meter is located in your home you can check the
meter to see if you have a leak in your home (if you have an
outside meter pit, please see the next paragraph). First locate
your meter – it is usually located in your basement. To check
for a leak using your meter, first make sure that no water is
being used in the house – this includes washing machines, dish
washers, sprinkler systems, showers, faucets or toilets. You may
also turn off your master water shut off valve. Most meters have
a low fl w indicator (usually a little red triangle on the meter
face). If the low fl w indicator on your meter is spinning – even
slowly – water is going through the meter and you may have a
leak somewhere in your home. The next step is to locate it; toilets
are always a good place to start.
Toilets
Leaking toilets are frequently the culprit for in-home leaks. To
check for a leaky toilet, first remove the top off of the tank and
listen closely. If you hear hissing, try to locate where it is coming
from. If you are able to locate the leak you will need to assess
whether you can fix it ourself or call a plumber.
If you don’t see anything noticeable, put a couple of drops of
food coloring into the tank (not the bowl) and wait several
minutes. If you see colored water in the bowl – you have a leak in
the flapper located at the bottom of the tank, which is allowing
water to seep through. If you feel comfortable, you can make the
repair yourself, or call a plumber.
It is a good idea to test all of the toilets in your home just to make
sure you don’t have a problem with more than one.
Outside Meter Line
If your toilets don’t show signs of leaking go ahead and check the
line running from the house to the curb stop or to an outside
meter pit (if you don’t have an inside meter). Locating an outside
leak can save you money if you can locate the leak for the plumber.
If your meter is located in a pit, do not enter or try to open the
pit. You may walk the area between the meter pit or curb stop
and your home and look for obvious signs of a leak, such as: soft
muddy areas and/or grass that is greener than or growing much
faster than other areas. If you see such an obvious sign, call the
plumber or assess to see if you can make a repair yourself. If the
leak appears to extend past the meter pit, please contact your
rural water system.
Hose Bibs/
Outdoor
Faucets
If you suspect the
leak is near the
house, you will need
to locate all the hosebibs (hose-bibs are
the faucets located
on the outside of
your home that you
hook your garden
hoses to). Usually
an average residence
has one hose-bib in
the front and one in
the back, but be sure
to locate all of the
hose bibs on your
residence. (Be sure
to unhook garden hoses from hose-bibs in the winter so they can
drain and not freeze).
Once you have located your hose-bibs, take a screwdriver
(preferably one long enough to give yourself room to work), and
put the metal tip of the screwdriver directly on the metal part of
the hose-bib. Put your ear to the plastic handle of screwdriver, (in
this manner the solid screwdriver works like a stethoscope) and
carefully listen for sounds emanating from the hose-bib. If you
hear any sound be sure to mark that hose-bib. If the sound seems
to be louder at any of the other hose-bibs, then the leak is closer
to that unit and you should make sure and note that when you
call your plumber. This technique also wo ks for yard hydrants.
If you listen to all the hose-bibs and still find no sound, go into the
house and follow the same process with the screwdriver on your
house fittings such as faucets in sinks, shower valves, washer and
hot water heater. If you are still not sure, just contact a plumber.
WARNING! f yo do find the lea and decide to try and dig it
lease a e s re yo do a
ne all dial
so that yo don t dig
any tility lines and ca se yo rself hysical or financial har
f yo are not s re
call an e ert or yo r local l
ber
October 2013 | 5
Rural Water Systems Move Toward
R
AMR
Automatic Meter Reading
eading your water meter has long been a monthly chore for
most rural water users across South Dakota. But as the
technology of reading meters changes, you may find you
have one less chore on your monthly to-do list.
Automatic Meter Reading, or AMR, is a technology that has
undergone great change in recent years and is being embraced
by several rural water systems across the
state. AMR systems allow water meters to
be read electronically at various intervals
- hourly, daily or monthly. Once the data
is collected it is then downloaded by the
utility for analysis and billing.
In a drive-by system, the reading device is installed in a vehicle.
Each water meter has a transmitter connected to it. As a water
system employee drives past the location once per month, the
reading device collects the readings from each transmitter via
radio frequency.
A fixed network system uses permanently installed infrastructure
to capture meter readings. This method can
consist of a series of antennas, collectors or
repeaters to collect transmissions of meter
readings from transmitters installed at each
meter location. Readings can be gathered
hourly or daily.
AMR systems come
in several different
forms and have
various benefits
AMR systems come in several different
forms and have various benefits. One of
the biggest is accurate, timely readings. Water meters are a rural
water systems cash register, and accurate readings are needed for
sales and production figures. AMR systems are great customer
relations tools as members can be alerted in the event they have
high usage. Detailed graphs can also be provided to members to
educate them on their water usage patterns. Many AMR systems
have the ability to get an ‘on-demand’ meter reading, eliminating
the requirement to send an Operator out to get a reading for a
move in/move out situation. Engineering firms are utilizing the
constant stream of meter readings to conduct demand analysis for
better distribution system design. And finally, accurate readings
can help your water system better track water loss – the amount of
water pumped into the distribution system less the water reported
back through members’ water meters.
AMR systems include handheld devices, mobile or “drive-by,”
fixed networks and satellites. Many power companies also use
AMR Systems, which typically capture a signal sent down the
power line.
Handheld systems are typically used by municipalities or smaller
rural systems. A meter reader walks from location to location once
per month with a handheld computer and accesses the meter
reading from a device mounted on the outside of a home that is
connected to the water meter.
6 | October 2013
Satellite transmitters can be installed in the
field next to existing water meters. The
satellite AMR device communicates with the meter for readings,
and then sends those reads over a fixed or mobile satellite network
to the main office. Readings can be gathered hourly or daily.
South Dakota rural water systems are evaluating different AMR
systems based on the size of their system, the terrain in their area,
the number of users and the density of those users.
The West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water System serves 8,100
square miles in west-central South Dakota.
Among their over 4,000 rural water hookups are hundreds of
remote livestock pasture taps. Members were not able to regularly
read these taps and turned to the water system to help them out.
The area has many geographic challenges including river breaks
and the Badlands area that limited the type of AMR system they
could utilize. A satellite system proved to be the best option. “A
satellite system was the only one that would cover 100% of our
service area,” said WR/LJ Manager Jake Fitzgerald. “It is a simple
system to install and the up-front equipment requirements are
minimal.” Fitzgerald sees the positive benefits as improved data
accuracy, improved cash flow budgeting, improved customer/
public relations, daily data on production and sales and an
extremely powerful conservation tool. WR/LJ also provides a
customer portal so members can log in and track their water use.
The Tripp County Water User District located at Winner, SD has
been installing a drive-by system for the past
two years. Manager Russ Phillips liked the
initial low equipment cost and the fact they get
an accurate meter reading each month. It takes
an average of two days to drive the entire water
system service area to read the 1,400 meters
that are currently on the system. They hope to
have all 2,300 of their meters converted in the
next year.
The Clay Rural Water System located in
southeastern SD is in the process of installing
a fixed based system. Manager Greg Merrigan
stated, “We installed a drive by system in the
southern part of our system and liked the
benefits. As we explored options to expand it
system wide, the fixed based system worked the
best.” Clay RWS will read their 2,300 accounts
from three antennas located on existing water
towers throughout their service area. “One of
our local rural electric cooperatives went to
automatic meter reading in 2012 and we have
had numerous requests for a similar system.
“Members really like the convenience,” said
Merrigan.
AMR systems will continue to be refined in the
future. As more rural water systems weigh the
pros and cons of such systems, they may relieve
you of that monthly meter reading chore.
Automatic Meter Reading
AMR1
Why
AMR?
n Accurate, timely
readings
n Better sales and
production figures
n Customer service,
relations
n Save on manpower
gathering readings
n Demand analysis
n Water loss control
Your
Meter
2
Billing
System
4
Communications
Network
3
Your
Water
Bill
5
Manage
Your
Water
Usage
AMR systems can collect constant meter readings that allow
rural water members to understand their water usage patterns.
Above: Examples of a fixed
base/drive-by (top) and satellite
(bottom) transmitters.
October 2013 | 7
SD Water Rights Program
Protecting a Vital Resource
S
outh Dakota has often been called ‘The Land of
Infinite Variety’ for its varied landscape and abundant
natural resources. Water, both on the surface and
underground, is one of its most prized natural resources.
Abundant in the eastern part of the state and scarce in the
west, its regulation predates statehood.
The South Dakota Department of Environment and
Natural Resources regulates water management and
permitting through its Water Rights Program. The
Program is headed by Jeanne Goodman who recently
replaced Garland Eberle as Chief Engineer after Eberle’s
retirement at the end of March after 35 years with
the Department. The Water Rights Program’s core
functions include administrative (permitting, licensing),
Engineering (safety of dams, ordinary high water marks),
ground water (monitoring, driller licensing) and surface
water (stream gauge network, flood cont ol permits).
Climate played a major role in determining water rights
laws in South Dakota. The western part of the state, much
like the western part of the United States, tends to be
semi-arid to arid. In order to equitably distribute often
scarce water resources, a system developed based on the
“Doctrine of Prior Appropriation.” The Dakota territorial
legislature enacted legislation in 1881 (eight years before
statehood) establishing a procedure to “locate” surface
water rights. A claimant was required to file a location
certificate with the register of deeds, post a notice near
the diversion point, and begin construction within a certain
period of time. This “first in time, first in right” method
became a common identifier for this priority date based
system. In 1907 the state legislature affirme the doctrine
by enacting legislation authorizing the state engineer to
administer appropriation of surface water.
A major addition to water rights laws occurred in 1955
when legislation was enacted making use of ground water
also subject to the doctrine of prior appropriation. In
addition authority to issue water rights permits was passed
from the state engineer to a citizen’s board appointed by the
Governor. Thestate engineer provides a recommendation on
each application.
An important provision was added to the state’s water rights
laws in 1972 concerning management of ground water. The
provision prevents withdrawals of ground water in excess of
the average estimated annual recharge to the ground water
source. Not common in all western states, the provision
ensures that groundwater supplies will be available in
8 | October 2013
perpetuity to all domestic users and everyone with a water right permit.
Several underground aquifers in South Dakota are fully appropriated or
nearing full appropriation. These include three north of Huron, three in
Turner county and parts of the Big Sioux in the Sioux Falls area.
In South Dakota, all water (surface and ground water) is the property of the
people of South Dakota. Except for domestic uses, all private and public
uses of water require obtaining a water right permit. Some examples of
domestic use include household use, stock watering and noncommercial
irrigation for areas less than one acre. Domestic use does require a permit if
use exceeds 18 gallons per minute. Domestic use also has priority over water
uses that require a right.
A water right is needed
for the following uses:
Over 824,000 acres
of crop land are
covered by 4,795
irrigation permits in
South Dakota. With
the recent drought
and high commodity
prices, applications
to irrigate additional
acres have soared
in the past two
years.
In
2012
the Water Rights
Program
received
335
applications
and by years end had
issued 172 irrigation
permits, two more
than were issued
in 2009, 2010 and 2011 combined.
Irrigation permits accounted for 85% of
all permits issued in 2012. And the trend
continued in early 2013 with 158 permits
issued by April 1 and another 221 still
pending.
Information for this article was provided
by the SD DENR Water Rights Program.
Water Appropriations by
Type of Use in South Dakota
n Irrigation use (commercial or more than one acre)
n Municipal and Rural Water uses
n Commercial and Industrial uses
n Suburban housing and domestic uses
n Fish and Wildlife/Recreation uses
n Institutional use
TheWater Rights Program relies on data collected from 1,600
observation wells and 52 stream gauges located across the
state as well as collecting annual water use data from existing
permit holders to manage the state’s water resources. Much of
the information collected can be accessed online. Interactive maps
with observation well data, stream gauge data and lake levels can be
found at http://denr.sd.gov/des/wr/wr.aspx.
(based on cubic feet of water per second)
Irrigation use accounts for the vast majority of appropriated water
in South Dakota at 81%. Municipal (7%), industrial (5%) and
rural water (2%) round out the top four.
October 2013 | 9
Clark Rural Water System
:
Steve Arnesen
Chairman
Darrell Seefeldt
Secretary
Mark McHenry
Vice-Chairman
Arlen Boehnke
reas rer
Larry Wasland
W irector
NRWA Director
Ronald Hinman
Director
Clifford Dekker
Director
Mike Hovde
Director
:
Manager:
Duane Stokes
Office Manager:
Diane Burns
Operator:
Jeff Hoffman
Operator:
James Holm
Operator:
Terry Kaufman
10 | October 2013
In 1976, the worst drought in South Dakota’s
history was beginning to dramatically impact the
lives of rural Clark county residents. Wells and
dugouts were going dry and livestock was sold
due to the lack of feed and water. Knowing that
a guaranteed water source could break the back
of drought cycles and help both the farmer and
main-street prosper was a motivating factor in
the development of Clark Rural Water System.
The original idea for the Clark Rural Water
system started with a group of farmers from
southern Clark County gathered around a
kitchen table. By 1977 a steering committee
was formed and began the daunting task of
developing interest in rural water among the
county residents. Although there were setbacks,
the committee secured nearly 400 sign ups by
1978 and the Clark Rural Water System was put
on the State Water Plan in 1981.
By 1982, the Clark Rural Water Board of
Directors had secured $5.2 million dollars in
loan and grant funds. Funding for Clark Rural
Water primarily came from Rural Development
(called FmHA in those days) with a combination
of loan and Grant funds. The state of South
Dakota also contributed loan and grant funding
to the system. The grants Clark received included
a HUD Community Development grant,
Oahe Subdivision grant, Oahe exploratory
Grant, and a small grant from the East Dakota
Water Development District. The developing
membership also contributed nearly $160,000
towards the project.
Construction started
on Clark Rural Water
in October of 1982
with work starting
on the first well; the
final
distribution
lines were installed
December 1983. 525
rural users and five
municipalities were
part of the original
project with the final
cost of the original
construction of Clark
Rural Water totaling
around $5,250,000.
The design of the system called for the source to
be developed, the treatment plant constructed
and the distribution lines installed at nearly the
same time. As a result, there was no treated water
available to pressure check the distribution lines
being installed. The process of using untreated
water worked great at the time for verifying that
the newly constructed lines were leak free, but
now whenever there is any disruption to the lines
they need to be flushed as the iron that settled
out of the water from that initial construction
can dirty the water.
Clark’s first expansion project began in 1984
after the system acquired some grant funding.
After the initial project, there were some monies
left over – so a small project was developed to
connect 20 additional rural users and several
miles of distribution main line. The next
expansion occurred in 1989 when the system
expanded to the east connecting hookups to
the north side of Lake Kampeska. The project
included a storage tank, pumping station and
added 125 new members to the system.
In 1992 Clark Rural Water joined forces with
Codington-Clark Electric to save costs and
increase service reliability for both organizations.
Clark Rural Water installed a 150 kW backup
generator at the treatment plant to help with
load management. This agreement was the first
between a Rural Water System and a Rural
Electric for load management. The agreement
allowed the rural electric utility to reduce their
eliminated the shortage that was experienced the year before, and
enabled the system to provide water to a 48 home development
and the Joy Ranch facility for Lutheran Outdoors. By building the
plant with system personnel, the system saved over $300,000 in
construction costs. An additional 137 acres was purchased around
the wells at the Kampeska Plant for well protection.
wholesale power costs, and as a result Clark Rural Water received
a reduced rate on electricity – which in turn reduced the cost of
delivering water to the membership.
By 1993 the demand on the system had exceeded the original plant
design capacity. A second filtration unit was added that doubled
the system capacity from 600 gpm (gallons per minute) to 1,200
gpm. With this added capacity, the system was able to expand to
the northwest from Raymond to Crocker and north to another
125 people who were requesting water service. A small storage
tank and pumping station were constructed to serve the members.
Three additional wells have been constructed since 1991 to serve
the main treatment plant, bringing the total number of wells to
six. Land around the wells has been purchased over the years for
wellhead protection. Currently, 675 acres are rented to local farmers
or dedicated to the CRP program, while giving Clark Rural Water
control over the activities and practices around the well field.
Another dry cycle in 2006 demonstrated the limits of the distribution
system, with tanks running very low or dry. A tanker truck was used
for three days to keep members in water during August by delivering
over 136,000 gallons to keep the Kampeska storage tank from going
dry. In October the staff at Clark RWS began construction of a
200 gpm nitrate removal plant, storage tank and wells to serve the
area north of Watertown. The plant went online in 2007 and has
The original treatment plant had a design life of 20 years. 2007 took
the plant 5 years beyond that figure with a couple more years to
do something about it, after evaluating the condition it was in.
Engineering reports and design proposals took a couple of years to
approve, and when the project was ready to look at funding resources
the Stimulus Program was announced. Shovel ready projects were
the qualifier and we had a shovel ready project. A lime softening
treatment plant with a total cost of $7,820,000 was approved with a
great ratio of 36.6% Grant, or $2,862,000 grant money and a loan
of $4,958,000 at a 2.75% interest rate. It would be hard to imagine
that the system will ever outgrow this facility with a treatment rate of
2200 gallons per minute, and the construction of the plant and the
process equipment
inside will have an
extremely long life
cycle and will be
able to provide
good water for
decades.
The
ongoing evolution
of the system
has brought us
to over 1,100
members and five
municipalities
that use nearly
300
million
gallons annually,
and now with
capacity for future
development in
our service area.
S
Service Connections:
Miles of Pipeline:
Water Source: ast or
ifer orth nit
Counties Served:
Clark
er illion
odington
ay
ifer
ig io
rant
a lin
Towns Served Bulk: a ota io
asino at res eli
lar
lorence enry Wallace ay ond radley
Clark
Rural Water System
October 2013 | 11
Rural
Water
Crossword
HUNTING
&
Word
Scramble
Contest
1d0P0rize!
$
ran
G
ACROSS
3.
Cover device for hunters
5.
Type of hunting using a bow
7.
Popular hunting outfitter in southeast South Dakota
9.
Open or enclosed platforms used by hunters
12. Moving a lure to attract fish
13. Deer breeding season
15. Deer meat
16. Jakes and Jennies
18. Like many bird species, the males of this breed of waterfowl
often have more colorful feathers than their female
counterparts.
19. Ruffed, Sage, Blue, Spruce
20. Snows and Blues
DOWN
1.
Ring Neck
2.
What does the coyote do that the domestic dog also does?
4.
This spooks game very easily
6.
Breed of gun dog good for pheasant hunting
8.
Weapon popularly used for bird hunting
10. Process of looking for a good hunting spot
11. A spread of these range in sizes from standard to super
magnum
14. Deer, but not related to a Donkey
17. Waterfowl and pheasant hunting hours typically end at _______.
Rules:
Use the colored squares in the puzzle to solve the word scramble above. Call your Rural Water System
or e-mail info@sdarws.com with the correct phrase by October 11th to be entered into the $100 drawing.
Email Entries: Put your answer in the subject line, and include your name, address, phone number, and the name of your Rural Water System (Water System name is
located on the front cover of this magazine). Incomplete entries will be disqualified without notice.
Only one entry allowed per email address/household.
Your information will only be used to notify the winner, and will not be shared or sold.
Congratulations to Lisa M. Cornelius of Mid-Dakota RWS, who had the correct phrase of “A reel expert can tackle anything” for July 2013.
12 | October 2013
Rural Water Across South Dakota
Tri County Mni Wasté Project
R
ural water expansion and construction continues for the
Tri-County/Mni Wasté Water Company. The system is one
of the oldest rural systems and currently serves approximately
1,200 hookups utilizing 1,400 miles of pipeline in Dewey,
Meade, and Ziebach Counties. With the tremendous growth and
development on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, Tribal
leaders and water project
board members have teamed
up to implement a long range
plan to provide quality water
and service to all customers
within their service area.
Phase I includes a 30-inch
raw water line that will feed
their new water treatment
plant 11 miles from the
new Missouri River intake
structure. This $14.7 million
Rural Development funded
project is ready to move
forward.
Phase II &
III will see
construction
of
their
4.4 MGD
conventional
w a t e r
treatment
plant,
25
miles of 24inch pipe to
Eagle Butte,
shop, storage,
and garage
facility. Cost
estimates are
$58 million.
The entire water project is estimated at $400 million and will
provide distribution system upgrades and additional users
located north and west of Eagle Butte.
WEB Water Unveils New Shop Building
W
EB Water first served water to its customers in May of
1986. At that time, WEB Water was renting office
space in the old YWCA building located east of the
Post Office in Aberdeen. After a few years WEB Water moved
its headquarters to a vacant bank building located near the Auto
Plaza on North Highway 281. In 1996 the WEB Water Board of
Directors decided to purchase the Honest John’s building and the
20 acres of adjacent land to the west.
In 2010 WEB Water decided to expand their storage space by
building a new shop on the 20 acres just west of the existing office
and shop area. The 150’ by 320’ building would provide WEB
Water the capability of storing inventory inside as well as vehicles
– including semis with track hoes on the trailer. This extra storage
space greatly improved response time to emergencies in the
winter time by having warm equipment and inventory accessible.
On June 20, 2013, WEB Water hosted an open house for it’s
members in the new building. Approximately 200 people
attended and were served hamburgers, brats, chips, ice cream –
and of course ice cold WEB water. This was a great time to show
off the new building and connect with the membership.
October 2013 | 13
Thank Yous
Thank you for this wonderful scholarship. It will be a tremendous help to have this scholarship to help
pay for my college. This coming school year I plan to attend USD and I am going to start out
by majoring in nursing and then continue on to become a pediatrician. This scholarship is greatly
appreciated. Thanks Again!
Tiaunna Marie Heiman, Presho
Would like to thank West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water Systems, Inc. for supporting me financially,
as I begin my future educational plans. I am excited for the new challenges and opportunities that
await me!! I recently returned from a mission trip to the Dominican Republic and I now have a much
greater appreciation for fresh, clean, drinkable water!! God Bless!
Marti Lynn Herber, Kadoka
I want to sincerely thank you for awarding me the West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water scholarship. I
will make sure this scholarship will be put to good use and appreciated more than you know. Thanks
Again!
Thomas Doolittle, Philip
Thank you sincerely for sponsoring this scholarship. It will be extremely helpful for college. I am
attending SDSU and majoring in mechanical engineering. Thank you.
Wyatt S. Walker, Murdo
Heiman
Herber
Holiday Closings
In observance of the following holidays, WR/LJ Rural
Water offices will be closed on the following days:
October 14, 2013 – Columbus Day
November 28, 2013 – Thanksgiving Day
November 29, 2013 – Day after Thanksgiving
In case of an emergency, please call the Murdo area
at 530-0932 or the Philip area at 530-1136 for assistance.
14 | October 2013
Doolittle
Walker
Pipe Dream
to
Reality
Celebrating
20 Years of Service
1993 - 2013
DENR Recognizes West River/Lyman-Jones
For Drinking Water Compliance
T
he South Dakota Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) announced today that the
West River/Lyman-Jones public water system and the
system’s operation specialists have been awarded a Decade of
Drinking Water Excellence Award. The award is for outstanding
water system operations and environmental compliance with
state drinking water standards for the past ten years.
The system’s operation specialists are Jake Fitzgerald, Michael
Vetter, Ed Venard, Brandon Kinsley, Eddie Dartt, John Kramer,
Steven Baker and Nicholas Konst.
“Many people turn on the tap in their home or offic and take
the clean, safe water that fl ws out for granted,” and DENR
Secretary Steve Pirner, “but it takes highly trained, certified
system operation specialists to make it happen every day. The
operation specialists of the West River/Lyman-Jones have made
it happen for not just one year, but for ten consecutive years.”
To qualify for the Decade of Drinking Water Excellence Award,
public water systems and their system operation specialists
had to meet all of the following requirements for the past ten
consecutive years:
n compliance monitoring and reporting,
n drinking water standards, and
n certification equirements.
October 2013 | 15
West River/Lyman Jones
Rural Water Systems Inc.
PO Box 407
Murdo, SD 57559
Water Matters
Bacteria in Surface Water
Sources of fecal contamination to
surface waters include wastewater
treatment plants, on-site septic systems,
domestic and wild animal manure, and
storm runoff. Regardless of the source,
the presence of elevated levels of
bacterial contamination suggests that
pathogenic microorganisms might also
be present and that use of the water
might be a health risk.
Every summer, thousands of South
Dakotans spend time in and around the
rivers, streams and lakes of the state.
In fact, the state has officially identified
immersion recreation (swimming) and
limited-contact recreation (other uses
of the water like fishing or boating) as
beneficial uses for hundreds of individual
lakes, along with many miles of rivers and
streams.
To assess whether or not the water at a
particular lake or stream is suitable for these
recreational uses, the state has adopted
measurable criteria for water samples.
The primary criteria is the concentration of
certain types of bacteria in the water. Fecal
coliform bacteria (FCB) and Escherichia
coli (E. coli) are measured as indicators
of possible contamination because they
are commonly found in human and animal
feces. Elevated FCB or E. coli indicate that
there is a higher probability of the presence
of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria,
viruses, and protozoans that are also found
in human and animal wastes.
Provided by:
East Dakota Water Development District
132B Airport Drive • Brookings, SD, 57006
(605)
• http://eastdakota.org
16 |688-6741
October
2013
Is My River/Stream/
Lake Safe?
The South Dakota Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
(SD DENR) evaluates available water
quality information from numerous
locations across the state to determine
if the designated beneficial use(s) are
being met. Every two years, SD DENR
publishes a report on their findings,
including data on measured bacteria
levels. If your particular lake or stream
is not listed, you may want to explore
other options, including taking your
own samples.
In most cases, measured bacteria
levels are well within safe ranges.
However, it is never a bad idea to have
at least some understanding of what to
expect when visiting the local lake or
stream.
To learn more,
consider the
following resources:
The SD DENR 2012 South
Dakota Integrated Report for
Surface Water Quality
(the most recent version)
http://denr.sd.gov/
documents/12irfinal.pdf
Dakota Water Watch
(a program that supports citizen
volunteers who collect information
on their lake or stream)
http://eastdakota.org/
dakotawaterwatch/
US EPA Region VIII Water
Home Page
(a good starting point for federal
level information)
http://www2.epa.gov/region8/region8-water-home-page