The Tea Reservoirs and Pump Station are an integral part of the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System (L&C). Treated water is pumped from L&C's water treatment plant near Vermillion, SD into the main 54”-diameter, 49.2-mile trunk line that delivers water to member systems and into two 7.5-million gallon reservoirs located west of Tea, SD. A booster pump station is also located at the Tea Reservoir site.

The Tea Pump Station delivers water into two 36”-diameter pipelines. One 36”-diameter pipeline is routed to the north to deliver water to the west side of Sioux Falls and other member systems, while the second 36”-diameter pipeline extends to the east to deliver water to the south side of Sioux Falls and other member systems located near Sioux Falls and into the 85th Street Tower. The 85th Street Tower is a 3-million gallon elevated water tower. Water flows through the 85th Street Tower to the pipeline that extends eastward into Iowa and Minnesota.

Two 7.5-million gallon prestressed concrete reservoirs with a height to overflow of 48' were constructed at the site. Space was reserved for a third reservoir that could be added in the future. The reservoir contract included a significant length of large-diameter (36" and 54") piping and a reservoir mixing system. A main line booster pump station was also constructed on the site. The pump station included eight 4,700 gallons per minute (350 hp) high-service vertical turbine pump, variable frequency drives, surge tank, piping, valves, chemical feed systems, and controls.