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Council authorizes feasibility study to weigh MCWC allocation vs. local treatment options
Summary
The council approved Task Order 7 with DGR Engineering to analyze long-term water options: purchasing additional allocation from Minnehaha Community Water Development Corporation, using the city's groundwater rights with local treatment, or other alternatives tied to regional projects such as Dakota Mainstem.
The Dell Rapids City Council approved a task order with DGR Engineering to conduct a water supply and treatment feasibility study aimed at informing the city's long-term water resource decisions.
DGR representatives told the council Dell Rapids currently has adequate water allocations but continued growth could exhaust existing allocations. The study will evaluate options that include purchasing additional allocation from the Minnehaha Community Water Development Corporation (MCWC) as the MCWC builds a new plant near Trent, tapping the city groundwater rights and building a local treatment plant, or taking no action and relying on future regional transmission projects such as Dakota Mainstem.
DGR noted the MCWC new plant has been bid to produce 8 million gallons per day, with roughly 4.5 million becoming available to MCWC and a portion allocated to existing customers; the city currently has about 1 million gallons of allocation and could consider buying more. Staff and council discussed timing: the regional plant near Trent is expected to be operational around 2026 (2026 stated by DGR), and the study will provide cost comparisons, rate impacts and funding options. The motion to approve Task Order 7 with DGR carried on the council floor.
