Helping Water Infrastructure Keep pace with Growth in Western South Dakota
In western South Dakota, rapid population growth and increased housing development over the last 5 years has outpaced utility infrastructure. This imbalance has become a concern for water and wastewater infrastructure systems, necessitating action.
In 2022, RESPEC was contracted to conduct the West River Regional Water and Wastewater Study (WRRWWS) to identify and address water and wastewater needs in the area through 2035. Multiple utility providers and municipalities provide water and wastewater services within the study area boundaries, including the City of Piedmont, City of Summerset, Black Hawk Water User’s District, City of Rapid City, Rapid Valley Sanitary District, City of Box Elder, and City of New Underwood.
Study area in western South Dakota
Western South Dakota landscape
In pursuing the initial study, the following goals were established to guide our research and analysis:
- Inventory key area resources for sourcing water and wastewater disposal
- Inventory and evaluate existing water and wastewater infrastructure within the Study Area
- Identify regional needs
- Identify potential regional projects to address regional deficiencies and promote better regional coordination for more efficient use of infrastructure and area resources (natural and financial)
- Conduct informational meetings with the stakeholders to solicit feedback.
Outreach efforts included multiple meetings with stakeholders individually and as groups to solicit stakeholder input and determine the effective use of resources and infrastructure to meet the growing needs in the region.
During the study, RESPEC quickly identified several regional deficiencies, including aging infrastructure, limited accessibility to high-quality drinking water sources, and emerging contaminants in drinking water sources. Many small water systems in the area also face operational challenges, which pose a challenge to providing adequate water supplies. The extensive use of septic systems in sensitive aquifer recharge areas has also raised concerns, as it carries a heightened risk of nitrite/nitrate contamination to the primary water source that communities rely on. Finally, the study identified opportunities to improve regional coordination and planning among cities, districts, county agencies, state agencies, and policymakers. Improving regional coordination will allow more efficient use of limited area resources, infrastructure, and funding.
As the region's population grows, it is increasingly important to have strong and well-designed utility systems in place. The WRRWWS provides insight and possible solutions to the region’s key utility challenges, serving as a starting point for collaborative efforts to enhance the region’s utility stability and resiliency for the next decade.