South Dakota water project secures funding for regional study

Dakota Mainstem, a new water project, secured a $4.2 million congressional contract to conduct a feasibility study on providing additional water to communities across eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa, and northeastern Nebraska. Executive Director Kurt Pfeifle emphasized the proactive nature of the study, stating that "If you wait until there's a crisis, you're already too late." The study, expected to last up to 2.5 years, will assess environmental impacts, identify necessary construction, and explore alternative water sources such as surplus aquifers and diversion from the Missouri River, which sees nearly 2 billion gallons flow out of South Dakota daily.

Jay Gilbertson, manager of East Dakota Water Development, highlighted the growing demand, projecting communities will need an additional 7-8 million gallons of water daily by 2030, potentially rising to 35 million by 2050. He stressed that existing water systems, like the Lewis and Clark Water System, will need upgrades to support future development, including processing plants, large industrial factories, and data centers. While data centers are acknowledged as potential future water users, Gilbertson noted that current proposals in eastern South Dakota have very low water consumption and are not the primary impetus for the study. After the study, Dakota Mainstem plans to collaborate with engineering firms like HDR Engineering for construction, though specific timelines and budgets are yet to be determined.