Project Description

It is not uncommon for a small community to be experiencing problems with their existing water and sanitary sewer systems.  Typically, the systems were installed in the early 1900's and have not been worked on since.   The water system may be comprised of cast iron or asbestos cement pipe that is constantly breaking, the system may have low water pressure, newly developed areas in the community need utility service and wanting to upgrade to radio read water meters are all areas that a City may want to address.  The DENR could also have made suggestions or require changes to their water system after a compliance inspection.  These are all reasons to have a water Facility Plan completed.   

The sanitary sewer system could be experiencing increased sewer flows during rain events and wet periods, the clay sewer main may need to be replaced, lift stations need upgrading, the ponds may be undersized and newly developed areas need utility service.  The DENR could also have made suggestions or require changes to their sewer system after a compliance inspection.  These are all reasons to have a sanitary sewer Facility Plan completed.   

A Facility Plan will evaluate your existing system, identify deficiencies, propose alternatives to fix these deficiencies and show the impact on user rates.  The Facility Plan can be used by the City to budget and plan for future projects.  An approved Facility Plan is required by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Rural Development in order to apply for funding.  To encourage communities with a population of 2,500 people or less the SD DENR reimburses 80% of the cost of the engineering study up to $8,000 for a water study and up to $10,000 wastewater study.