South Dakota natural resources department to provide $167 million for infrastructure projects

10/3/2022

(UC) — A new drinking water well, connection piping, sanitary sewer repairs and water line replacements are among the projects that will be funded by $167.2 million in grants and loans from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR).

The $167.2 million includes $9.1 million in grans and $158.1 million in low-interest loans, the department said. The DANR’s Board of Water and Natural Resources approved the funding last week.

“I am pleased to announce this financial assistance is available,” said DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts. “This funding will result in upgraded drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and support recycling projects which benefits system users and the environment.”

The grants and loans were awarded from DANR’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program, Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program, Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program, Solid Waste Management Program, and American Rescue Plan Act.

The projects include:

Belle Fourche received a $1.7 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan to drill a new well to increase water supply to the city. The new well will provide a secondary water source in the southern part of the city. A chlorination system and connection piping will be included.

Bison received a $1,666,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan and a $548,000 Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program grant to clean and televise the entire collection system. This effort will determine the condition of aging pipe infrastructure to prioritize replacement activity.

Brandon received a $478,837 ARPA grant to reconstruct the sanitary sewer north of Bethany Lift Station. The project includes installation of a new PVC sanitary trunk sewer main that will provide service to a new elementary school along with service to promote future residential development on the east side of town. These funds and local ARPA funds will cover project costs.

Buffalo Gap received a $1,147,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan with $846,000 of principal forgiveness to replace cast iron and 4-inch water lines throughout the town. The project will address all known system deficiencies related to existing distribution system and boost the water system flows for future integrity of the system. The terms of the loan are 0 percent for 30 years.

Sioux Falls received a $12.5 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan to loop a 1.5-mile water transmission main gap to readily move water throughout the city. The project will also replace an existing well with a new higher capacity horizontal collector well. This new well will increase source water capacity due to the inability to use several existing well near the airport due to PFAS contamination. The PFAS contaminated wells were taken out of service several years ago after contamination was detected, and the new well is needed to replace that lost capacity.

Click here for a full list of projects.