Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, Inc. was formed in 1990 to provide a critically needed source of quality, reliable drinking water to over 300,000 people in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. Lewis & Clark represents a unique regional approach to address common problems with area water resources in a more efficient and cost-effective manner than individual members could do alone. Regional water problems include shallow wells and aquifers prone to contamination, compliance with new federal drinking water standards, population and economic growth stifled due to inadequate water supplies, and insufficient resources to replace aging facilities.

The Lewis & Clark project uses the Missouri/Elk Point aquifer adjacent to the Missouri river near Vermillion, South Dakota as its water source. Eleven wells have been developed to date, providing a total pumping capacity of approximately 36 million gallons per day (MGD). The water treatment facility located two miles north of Vermillion, SD provides lime softening and granular media filtration, chlorine disinfection, and chloramination of the treated water. The water system storage facilities currently include the clearwell and pump station at the plant site, two ground storage reservoirs at the City of Tea, SD, and an elevated tank at Sioux Falls providing a total storage capacity of 22.5 million gallons of treated water.

Banner has developed and maintained a hydraulic model of the water system. The model is used to evaluate design conditions for pumping and reservoir operation, water age, and potential water quality changes in the distribution system. The model is also used to determine the rate of turnover in the storage reservoirs.

Banner has been the system engineer for Lewis & Clark since its formation. Banner’s services have included preparation of the Needs Assessment repot, a Feasibility Report, a Final Engineering Report, an Environmental Assessment, and recommendations for operation of the system to maintain water quality under different operating conditions.

Project Goal #1

Provide a safe, reliable, and economical water supply to the participating to the following members:

• Lincoln County RWS
• MCWC RWS
• South Lincoln RWS
• Lincoln-Pipestone RWS
• Rock County R
• Beresford, SD
• Centerville, SD
• Harrisburg, SD
• Lennox, SD
• Madison, SD
• Parker, SD
• Sioux Falls, SD
• Tea, SD
• Hull, IA
• Sheldon, IA
• Sibley, IA
• Sioux Center, IA
• Rock Rapids, IA
• Luverne, MN
• Worthington, MN