Future Water Supply Evaluation
City of Sioux Falls, SD

 

140,000 and Growing

The City of Sioux Falls is in the ranks of many growing Midwestern communities, and shares their inherent concerns.  Located on an interstate highway junction, Sioux Falls has seen ignificant population growth in every decade since 1900 – a trend that’s not anticipated to end any time soon.  Based on this, the City of Sioux Falls has determined that the available water supplies presently utilized within close proximity to the City will not be able to meet water demands beyond the year 2012.  In response, Sioux Falls recently became a member of the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System (LCRWS), and is slated to receive 10 million gallons per day (mgd) by 2009 under its current agreement with LCRWS.  However, the implementation timeline of the LCRWS could be delayed due to the recent federal funding appropriation shortfalls.  It is also anticipated that the City of Sioux Falls will eventually require a water supply capacity greater than that provided by the existing water supplies and the LCRWS over a reasonable planning period.

Armed With Information

In order to guarantee a safe and abundant supply of drinking water, the City of Sioux Falls commissioned AE2S to complete a Future Water Supply Evaluation.  The purpose of the evaluation is to present objective information regarding the implementation of the LCRWS via interim financing in conjunction with, or versus, the implementation of an independent water supply project utilizing the Missouri River, as identified in a 1977 study effort.  For the evaluation, eight primary objectives were established, and once complete, the Future Water Supply Evaluation will present findings and results corresponding to each stated objective.

A Tool for Preparedness

Using the information provided in the Future Water Supply Evaluation, the City of Sioux Falls can effectively evaluate the alternatives and pursue the most cost-effective strategy in a timely fashion to meet the future water supply needs of 2012 and beyond.