The residents and businesses served by the R & T Water Supply Commerce Authority now have greater access to high-quality drinking water, thanks to additional supply from the Western Area Water Supply Authority (WAWSA). The R & T system was officially hooked up to WAWSA service today (8/13). “WAWSA wants to thank the State Legislators, Governor Dalrymple and the State Water Commission who continue to recognize the value and benefit of the Western Area Water Supply Project (WAWSP). With their support, we will remain on track to provide high-quality drinking water to northwestern North Dakota communities that need service as soon as possible,” says Denton Zubke, WAWSA Chairman.
Representative Bob Skarphol of Tioga, loyal supporter of the project for the last two legislative sessions, provided the keynote comments at today’s celebration at the R & T Water Treatment Plant to celebrate the new WAWSP connection. Rory Nelson, the State’s new Western North Dakota Energy Impact Coordinator, was also on hand on behalf of Gov. Jack Dalrymple. “What comes to the top of the list for all these areas that are getting strained by the growth are water, sewer, housing and roads. We can’t do anything in the area without water. We can’t have developments in cities and rural areas without water. We need a good supply of water and I think that this is a great system,” says Nelson. Representative David Rust of Tioga and the Mayors of Stanley and Tioga, Mike Hynek and Nathan Germundson, attended the event. All of the project’s stakeholders teamed up with Chairman Zubke and WAWSA Executive Director Jaret Wirtz to lead the group gathered in turning a water valve outside of the Water Treatment Plant to mark the new WAWSA service.
The WAWSP is being paid for largely through State loans through the Bank of North Dakota. Before he helped turn the valve, the CEO of the Bank of North Dakota, Eric Hardmeyer, said, “the Bank of North Dakota has $90 million into this (WAWSA) project and I can’t think of a better way to develop our assets than to provide water for industrial and commercial use, as well as residential.” The oil industry purchases WAWSA’s extra water capacity that’s not currently being used by residential areas to repay loans from the state. Continental Resources has cost-shared a portion of the WAWSA infrastructure near Epping, ND. Dave Ruffie represented Continental Resources at today’s event. He says the symbiotic relationship between WAWSA and the oil industry is a great opportunity for the industry to give back to local communities. “Continental is very pleased to be part of bringing rural water into the Williston Basin. We see this as a great opportunity to show our commitment to community and develop that relationship of industry and community together,” says Ruffie. Joy Bickler, Hess Corporation Team Lead Contract Management, and Nelson, who also worked at Hess Corp. before accepting the Energy Impact Coordinator position with the state, echoed Ruffie’s comments. “The daily work we do, we need water for fracking and other things. By purchasing something we need every day, it’s going to help local cities and counties, and they’re going to have a great water supply at the end,” says Nelson.
Ray, Tioga and Stanley access their water through the R & T System. Wildrose and Crosby are also connected via extended pipelines. Last summer the area dealt with intermittent water restrictions and a moratorium on service to new housing developments due to water shortages. WAWSA provides an additional source of water to the communities served by the R & T System.
“We’re so pleased that WAWSA water is now available to the R & T service area. Williston and Watford City residents already enjoy service from WAWSA and several more cities are set to be hooked up this year,” says Wirtz. Later this summer, WAWSA will begin service to Fortuna, Noonan, Columbus and 200 to 250 rural users in western McKenzie County. The Western Area Water Supply Project will serve an estimated 100,000 people by the year 2035 in all or parts of Burke, Divide, McKenzie, Mountrail and Williams Counties. For more information, go to http://www.WAWSP.com.
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