Clay Rural Water System History

Project History 1975 - 2023

A review of the significant development events of the water system:

Idea for System forms in 1973 and 1974 because of comments and questions regarding water sources and quality.

 January, 1975:

Area-wide survey conducted.

 March, 1975:

Informational meetings held.

April, 1975:

Advisory Board selected.

April 29, 1975:

First organizational meeting held at 4-H Center in Vermillion with 60 rural residents in attendance. Twelve member steering committee elected, later becomes Board of Directors.

 July 21, 1975

System becomes incorporated

Summer, 1975

Board and approximately 38 volunteers assist with sign-ups for feasibility study. By September 1,017 have signed on.

January, 1976

Engineering Feasibility Study completed. Decision made to proceed.

February, 1976

Final sign-up meetings in four locations in three days yield 730 hookups. Later sign-ups bring total to 980.

Fall, 1976

Final engineering design

Fall, 1977

Funding secured for $4.5 million

April, 1978

Bids awarded, construction begins

October, 1980

Construction completed. 1,050 users served

Final facilities include: wells, water treatment plant, 500 miles of distribution line, five water storage reservoirs and two booster stations.

 

General Contractors

  • Water Treatment Plant: Spencer Construction
  • Wells: Ed Lacey and Sons
  • Storage Reservoirs: Prairie Tank & Construction
  • Distribution System: Phase I & II: DA Davis Co, Phase III: Eatherly Constructors

Funding Package

  • Local Funds : $233,000
  • State of SD Grant: $300,000
  • USDA/ RD Loan: $3,510,000
  • USDA/ RD Grant: $1,125,000
  • Total: $5,168,000

1986 Added User Project

In 1986, the water system completed its first added user project. Sindt Construction of Mitchell added 75 new users throughout the system. The total project cost was $277,000. Funding was as follows:

  • Local Funds $25,000
  • CDBG Grant: $100,000
  • USDA/ RD Loan $152,000

 

1991 Added User Project

A second Added User Project was completed in 1991. Seventy two users were added. A small booster pumping station was added to provide increased pressure to the Union Grove Park area and controls were modified to allow more efficient pumping to the east phase of the distribution system. The total project cost was $395,800. Thorstad Brothers served as general contractor.

Project Funding

  • Local Funds $105,000
  • CDBG Grant $100,000
  • CoBank Loan $190,000

1996 Water Treatment & Supply Project

The largest project undertaken by the water system since original construction remodeled the water treatment plant to allow for softening of the water supply. Sludge storage lagoons were constructed, a 200,000 gallon storage reservoir was constructed at the plant site. An emergency interconnect was constructed with the City of Beresford. A standby generator was added later in the project at a cost of $65,000. Olson Construction of Huron served as general contractor for the interconnect; Hoogendoorn Construction and Caswell Mechanical served as contractors on the water treatment plant remodel.

Project Funding:

  • Local Funds $50,103
  • CDBG Grant $150,000
  • DENR Grant $577,760
  • USDA/ RD Loan $747,137

 

1997 -1998 Added User Project

200 new users joined the system in a widespread expansion project. The system boundaries expanded west into Yankton County and southeast into southern Union County. Two emergency interconnects were installed with the City of Vermillion. Contractors were Searles Const, Nitteburg Const. and McKee Const.

Project Funding

  • Local Funds $116,500
  • DENR Grant $75,500
  • USDA/ RD Grant $544,000
  • USDA/ RD Loan $544,000

 

1999 Well / Storage Building Project

A third well was drilled to meet increasing demand. A masonry storage building was constructed to house the well and allow for chemical storage. A computer control and monitoring system was installed. Building contractor: Hybertson; Well: Sargent Irrigation; Controls: In-Control Inc.

Project Funding:

  • Local Funds $36,000
  • USDA/ RD Grant $110,000
  • USDA/ RD Loan $214,000

 

2005 - 2006 South Union Project

A major expansion into southern Union County took place in 2005 - 2006 after years of study. A new water treatment plant, water tower and distribution system serving 300 users in four housing developments and rural Union county was constructed. Pipeline Contractor: Winter Bros.; Building; Hoogendoorn/Caswell; Tower: Maguire Iron.

Project Funding:

  • DENR Loan $4,331,000
  • DENR Grant $500,000
  • CDBG Grant $412,000
  • CoBank Loan $300,000
  • Local Funding $293,879

 

2010 Improvements Project Phase I

The first of two phases of system-wide improvements was undertaken after a 2007 capacity study indicated the need for a number of improvements.  The Garfield Booster was replaced, a fifth high service pump and new well were added at Wakonda, SCADA improvements were completed and additional capacity was added to the Coyote Plant. Contractors: Booster DW Proehl; Well: Sargent Drilling; HSP/Coyote Plant: Caswell Mechanical.

Project Funding:

  • DENR Loan $846,300
  • Principal Forgiveness ($700,000)
  • Local Funding $33,555

 

2010 Improvements Project Phase II

Phase II of the system-wide improvements project included an added user project (96 users), repainting Spink Reservoir, Greenfield Reservoir and Wakonda WTP lime silo. A circulation system was also installed at Spink. A new booster station was installed adjacent to the Beresford Reservoir to boost pressure in the area. Contractors: Painting: K&W Coatings; Booster & Pipeline Eatherley Constructors;

  • DENR Loan $2,208,000
  • Principal Forgiveness ($500,000)

 

01 / 05

2019 - 2022 2020 Project

This project added a Pressure Relief Vault at the intersection of SD Hwy 50 and SD Hwy 19 naming it the 1950 PRV. An additional booster station "Alsen Booster" was added to the west side of the system. 2 Antennas were added to the system to booster signal for the AMR readers. Also with XXX miles of pipeline to booster pressure as well to the west side of the system.