Page 8 - SWA AR Desktop

A Successful Project
2020 | 8
www.SWwater.com
John P. Paczkowski
North Dakota
State Engineer
Further Advancement on the Southwest Pipeline Project
Nearly 35 years of construction on the Southwest Pipeline Project (SWPP) has resulted in completion of the pipeline network needed to serve the geographical area originally envisioned for the project. The Water Commission has been working to develop the SWPP since 1986, when it was introduced into North Dakota Century Code, Section 61-24.3, declaring it necessary that the Southwest Pipeline Project be established and constructed, to provide for the supplementation
of water resources through a portion of the area in North Dakota, south and west of the Missouri River with water supplies from the Missouri River for multiple purposes to develop the SWPP.
Since the beginning of construction, the SWPP has been a tremendous project and is an outstanding accomplishment. The SWPP now serves a population of more than 56,000 people in southwest North Dakota including 33 communities, 7,330 rural service locations, 24 raw water customers, and 24 contract customers, three crew camps and two raw water depots.
As construction on the Project progressed, the designed capacity in many areas was fully allocated, and a need for additional capacity arose. In 2020, contracts to increase treated water capacity were executed and included construction of additional reservoirs in Belfield and Davis Buttes located in Stark County.
The second Belfield reservoir, adjacent to the existing reservoir east of the City of Belfield, is a 750,000-gallon factory coated glass-lined, bolted, steel reservoir. The Davis Buttes reservoir is slightly larger at 1,000,000-gallons, and is located approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the City of Dickinson. Both projects were operational in late fall 2020.
Additional work also occurred at the Dodge and Richardton pump stations to increase raw water transmission capacity for the SWPP. This included installation of higher-powered pumps at the pump stations to replace the smaller existing equipment.
The need for water development funding in North Dakota is critical. It advances many vital projects
“The need for
water development
funding in the
State is enormous.”
including the SWPP, Northwest Area Water Supply, Western Area Water Supply, and the Red
River Valley Water Supply Project, among others. The North Dakota Legislature and the Water
Commission understand the importance of water supply projects and continue to work toward
prioritizing funds in the most efficient way possible. Progress on these projects directly contributes to providing the citizens of North Dakota with clean, reliable, quality water.
The SWPP has been, and continues to be, a successful water development project for the State of
North Dakota. The success of the SWPP results from the teamwork, dedication, and devotion of many, including the Governor’s Office, Legislature, Water Commission, Southwest Water Authority, and the citizens of southwest North Dakota.
Historically, funding has been provided through several supporting agencies, such as the Water Commission, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, and the North Dakota Department of Health - through the State Revolving Loan Fund. The Southwest Pipeline Project serves as a shining example of what can be accomplished with collaboration, hard work, and determination.