Environment and Natural Resources
For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 14, 2001
For More Information: David Ryan, 773-4216

DENR Board Approves $2.9 Million For Water and Wastewater Projects

PIERRE – Approval of a $1.7 million loan to the West River/Lyman-Jones (WR/LJ) Rural Water System completed the state’s $12.9 million cost share commitment to the Mni Wiconi Rural Water System. The loan was one of five funding awards totaling more than $2.9 million recommended by Gov. Bill Janklow and approved during the two-day Board of Water and Natural Resources meeting held Wednesday and Thursday in Pierre.

The $1.7 million State Water Resource Management System (SWRMS) loan to WR/LJ is for continued construction of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water System in western South Dakota. The loan is at 3 percent for 40 years.

The WR/LJ Rural Water System is one of four components that comprises the Mni Wiconi Rural Water System. The other three components of the Mni Wiconi system include the Oglala, Rosebud, and Lower Brule Sioux tribes.

"The cooperative effort between West River/Lyman-Jones and three tribes in South Dakota is vital to providing quality drinking water to residents in an eight-county area extending from Fort Pierre through the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation," said Janklow.

In addition to the WR/LJ loan, the $2,890,000 total awarded by the board includes one Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan for $565,000 and three Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program (Consolidated) grants totaling $625,000.

Janklow said of the funding awards, "These projects are critical to improving the quality of life in South Dakota. By providing safe, dependable drinking water, improving water quality, and upgrading community wastewater systems, these projects provide for economic development and protect the environment."

The $565,000 Drinking Water SRF loan to Gettysburg is for water line replacement. The loan is at 4½ percent for 20 years

The $625,000 in Consolidated grants includes $100,000 to Glenham and $300,000 to Nisland for water system replacement projects and $225,000 to Northville for a wastewater collection and treatment project.

The State Water Resource Management System identifies large, costly water projects that require specific state or federal authorization, and funding amounts are set annually by the state Legislature. The Drinking Water SRF loan program provides low interest loans for public drinking water system projects. The Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program provides grants and low interest loans for community water, wastewater, and watershed projects. 

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