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Kingbrook Rural Water System Inc. SYSTEM BACKGROUND In March 1974, a preliminary steering committee began soliciting water use information and $25 good intention fees from rural residents. Cliff Jacobsen of Sioux Valley Empire Electric Association and the Brookings, Kingsbury, Lake and Mine County Extension Services agencies provided information and assistance. By July 1974, DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company (DGR) was retained to study the project area's needs and prepare a preliminary report and feasibility study. The preliminary engineering report was completed and accepted in December 1974. The steering committee then forwarded the report to the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) for funding consideration. With over 1,500 water user locations signed up and a preliminary cost estimate of $8 million, FmHA felt the entire system could be completed sooner if financed and constructed in phases, rather than waiting for sufficient funds to do the entire system at once. In February 1975, DGR presented a report that divided the project into four construction phases. Construction for Phase I and Phase II began in 1977. Phases III and IV would later be combined with construction beginning in 1979. Kingbrook became a vast network of pipeline, meters, ground storage reservoirs, filtration plants and supply wells. Additional members joined the systems during the planning and construction near 2,200 when construction was completed in 1981. The entire construction project totaled $12.4 million and was funded as follows $ 2,870,000 FmHA grant $ 300,000 State of SD grant $ 8,700,000 FmHA loan $ 530,000 Member Contributions The system originally served an area about 2,000 square miles, from Montrose north to Hayti and from Bruce west to Manchester. GROWTH IN THE '90'S With increasing demand from our current users and interest from many rural South Dakotans needing a source of safe drinking water free of nitrates and other harmful chemicals, Kingbrook's Board of Directors recognized a need to improve and expand the system. SUBPROJECT 1: In early 1990, capacity improvements to the DeSmet Water Treatment Plant and the drilling of a new well in the well field north of DeSmet were completed. Other improvements included the construction of a booster station and standpipe in the Ramona area. Approximately 125 new users and 50 miles of distribution lines were also added to the System. SUBPROJECT 2: Completed in 1991, this project brought about the drilling of two new wells north of DeSmet and the construction of storage tanks at the DeSmet Water Treatment Plant. Also included in Subproject 2 was the installation of distribution pipelines to approximately 135 new services. A water tower north of Howard was erected to increase storage capacity in that area and bring requested bulk water service to the City of Howard. SUBPROJECT 3: Still trying to answer to the increasing number of requests for water service, 1993 brought about the installation of distribution pipelines for approximately 185 new users. Improvements were also made at the Bruce Water Treatment Plant north of Bruce. One new well was drilled north of the Chester Water Treatment Plant and a water tower was constructed north of Montrose. The City of Montrose became another bulk water user during 1993. WELL FIELD/TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENT: In 1995, the south end of the System had outgrown its treatment capacity and it became necessary to make improvements and upgrades to the treatment filters at the Chester Water Treatment Plant. In the north end of the System, wells seven and eight were drilled in the DeSmet well field to increase pumping capacity. BULK WATER SERVICE TO AREA TOWNS: In the 90's the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established more stringent water testing requirements that resulted in increased operational costs for local municipalities. Officials in area cities looked for ways to decrease the cost and enhance the quality of the water to city residents. Kingbrook offered a solution to these problems and several cities viewed rural water service as the answer. The Cities of Lake Preston, Arlington and Iroquois came on as bulk water users in 1995, 1996, and 1997 respectively. BRUCE WTP IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW MEMBER ADDITIONS: In 1997, over 6,000 sign-up brochures were mailed out. As a result, over 150 applications for service were returned. By the time the project was completed in 1999 over 170 services were connected. Included in the project on an emergency basis was additional water storage at the Bruce water treatment plant. A 1.1 million gallon storage tank was completed in the summer of 1998 to meet potentially high water demands in the Bruce area. 21st Century Progress ¨ City of Carthage Project: In order to meet water demands and water quality standards in the future, city officials in Carthage opted to join Kingbrook and have quality water delivered directly to the city. In December 2000, meter installation was completed and residents of Carthage began using Kingbrook water. This was Kingbrook's first venture at leasing a water distribution system from a small town. ¨ In the Fall of 2002, construction was completed to 144 new users in the Fedora/Osceola area. This project provided the best opportunity for water users in these remote areas to receive the same quality water service that had been available to their neighbors for 20 years. Included in this project was the installation of an additional 52 system-wide users. One of these was a large dairy operation whose owners came from Holland. This marked the beginning of increased livestock demands and the need for future improvements. ¨
Badger
Reservoir Storage Project The
turn of the century brought dry conditions and increased water demands from
livestock operations and area lake developments.
In response to this demand, a 350,000-gallon storage tank was constructed
at the Badger Reservoir in 2003 as a coordinated solution to the supply problem. ¨
Well
Field Land Acquisitions Dry
conditions also affected the south end our system.
Daily gallons pumped and treated from the Chester Water Treatment plant
reached all time highs in 2002 and 2003.
Existing wells were unable to meet the demands and, therefore, a combined
294 acres near the current well field were purchased from two area landowners.
In 2003, well #4 was drilled and put into production.
The purchase of this land will serve our water supply needs now and in
the years to come. ¨
2004
Pipeline & Distribution Improvements To
meet expected future demands and correct existing pressure and supply
deficiencies in the system, Kingbrook will construct approximately 94 miles of
pipeline, size 2-inch through 12-inch. The
added pipeline will provide water service to 100 new rural connections,
including one new dairy, and capacity for additional dairy and lake development.
This project should be completed sometime in 2005.
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