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Western Area Water Supply officials describe growth, projects and industrial demand to appropriations committee
Summary
Western Area Water Supply (WAWS) representatives told the committee that WAWS has expanded pipeline and treatment capacity in northwest North Dakota, outlined near-term rural projects and described steady industrial revenue that supports debt service.
Western Area Water Supply (WAWS) officials told the Appropriations — Education and Environment Division that the system has grown substantially and has multiple rural and municipal projects planned for the coming biennia.
"WAWS has 3,000-ish miles installed of rural distribution and transmission pipeline," said Chris Barkey, interim executive director of Western Area Water Supply, who described the service area as five counties and said the Williston Water Treatment Plant currently treats about 21 million gallons per day. Barkey said WAWS infrastructure includes 39 pump stations, 26 ground storage reservoirs and five water towers.
Barkey told the committee WAWS has seen a 72% population increase in its service area between the 2010 and 2020 censuses and that the system has relied on a mix of state funding and local revenue. He said WAWS historically has “taken on $290 million from the state and $173 million of that is local” (figures provided by the presenter).
Project work scheduled or proposed for the near term includes McKenzie County rural transmission, Battleview–MacGregor transmission, a Trenton-area 12-inch service main, and upgrades to treatment-plant intakes and sedimentation basins. Barkey said several rural projects will add new users and in some cases upsize existing pipe where demand has increased.
On industrial demand, an E2S engineer working with WAWS said Basin Electric recently announced a new plant near Ray and has discussed bulk-water needs in the range of about 150–200 gallons per minute; Barkey added that an existing pioneer plant in the area can draw around 500 gpm at peak. WAWS representatives told lawmakers that industrial revenues have been a consistent revenue source and that annual industrial revenue has generally remained in the $10–$12 million range, which WAWS uses to help meet principal and interest obligations.
Officials said three rural construction projects scheduled for the current biennium are poised to begin this spring and that the Williston plant expansion and a collection of transmission and storage projects are planned for the 2025–27 biennium. Committee members asked for follow-up data on recent water-use trends, residential versus municipal consumption, and year‑to‑date growth figures — Barkey agreed to provide additional usage and growth numbers to the committee.
No formal committee action on WAWS matters was recorded during the hearing.
