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First phase of NCRWC near completion

By Staff | Oct 28, 2009

The city of Esmond along with several rural residents in the Minnewaukan and Maddock areas will soon begin receiving treated water through the North Central Rural Water Consortium, which ties together the Central Plains Water District and North Prairie Rural Water District.

Construction is nearly complete on the REAP Zone Phase One project, according to Jim Hubbard, field engineer with Interstate Engineering, Bismarck, overseeing the water system construction.

That phase includes about 210 water customers in Benson County. The water supply will come from a branch line of the Central Plains Water District which has a treatment plant in Fessenden.

Esmond owned and operated its own water system, but city officials there believed tying into the consortium was the right decision, financially, for the future.

Hubbard said landowers will be notified within the next week that water service will start. Project officials are waiting on water tests through the state before getting the OK to allow the water pipeline to flow.

Bids for the the first phase were open and awarded in August of 2008 with construction beginning last fall. The general contractor is Abbot-Arne-Schwindt, Inc., of Moorhead, Minn. The project is estimated at $5.1 million, according to Hubbard.

Construction of REAP Zone Phase Two began in September and is already about 10 percent complete. That includes the Sheyenne and Oberon areas in northern Eddy and southeast Benson counties. The contractor is Ellingson Companies of West Concord, Minn. That project has approximately 100 water users. Construction will wrap up some time next year. That project is estimated at $3.2 million.

Anamoose-Benedict phase

Bids are expected to be let early next year on the planned Anamoose-Benedict phase of the consortium, which would include about 80 landowners in southern Pierce County, Hubbard said.

The city of Anamoose is also on track to receive treated water as well as users as far west as Benedict near the Ward and Sheridan County line. That phase is estimated at $10 million and work expected to begin next year, provided a bids is awarded.

The primary funding agencies for all the phases of the work include USDA Rural Development, providing both grants and loans. State Municipal Rural and Industrial (MR&I) funds are also being accessed. Members of the rural water consortium contribute through membership and water user fees.

In addition, plans are in the works to install additional water lines to reach customers within the Central Plains Water District which are not currently on that water system. There is some federal funds available to cover construction costs. Work could begin as soon as next year.