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Think Combine Safety For A Good Harvest

October 2010Volume 6, Issue 2

Page 3: South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems moves to Madison

October 20102

Manager’s ReportMartin J. JarrettGeneral Manager, Big Sioux Community Water SystemBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dan CarlsonChairman / State Director

Tom KansanbackVice-Chairman

Andy GroosSecretary / Treasurer

Eudene Gullickson

Robert LeBrun

Gaylen Backus

Dan Dannenbring

Thomas Nemmers

Kent Whipkey

STAFFGeneral ManagerMartin Jarrett

Chief Plant OperatorDave Bennett

Chief of DistributionMike Headrick

Distribution OperatorsBruce CramerJim Doyle

Small Systems OperatorJeff Carruthers

Corporate AccountsJodi Johanson

Customer Service / BillingDawn Christenson

CONTACT INFORMATION23343 479th Avenue Egan, SD 57024Phone: 24hrs.(605) 997-2098Email: bscws@bigsiouxcws.com

Office Hours:8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“Quality on Tap” (QOT) is published three times annually by Big Sioux CWS. The purpose of QOT is to provide educational and instructional guidance on a wide range of subjects dealing with water supply and rural living in South Dakota. Each member pays an annual $4 subscription deducted from their water rates to receive QOT. Non-member subscriptions are available for $8 annually.

Big Sioux CWS is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with Federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

NEW PLANT ON LINEJuly 5th was the Open House for our new Water Treatment

Plant serving the Lakes area in Lake County. Although not heavily attended, those that did attend found the plant an interesting tour. I want to take this opportunity to thank our Engineers, Banner Engineering of Brookings and especially Kristen Bisguard who was the lead project Engineer. Along with our General Contractor, PKG Contracting of Fargo, North Dakota, they both assured a smooth running project that came in less than .5% over the original bid price. Being a customer myself on this part of the system, I can attest to the fact that the blending of the two waters went well and that pressures during times of heavy water use have improved. Big Sioux CWS is now in a better position with regard to capacity to absorb future development in our service area.

NEW GENERATOR A new back-up generator has been placed in service at our

North Booster location, five miles north of Egan in Moody County. This generator, partially funded through a grant from the Office of Emergency Management, will assure that in times of utility power failures, service to the northern tier of our service area will remain uninterrupted.

WATER & DRAINAGEOf my thirty years in South Dakota, I can hardly remember

a greener summer, and a summer where the Big Sioux River has run as high as it has for as long as it has. To put the flow of the Big Sioux River in perspective this year, at bank full f low, the total amount of water that your water company treats and sells in a year, f lows past the treatment plant in less than 4 hours. This was also only the second year in my years at Big Sioux CWS that we have purchased flood insurance. We are very fortunate to have a series of gauging stations on the river, provided by the US Geological Survey. These can be accessed online in an almost real-time mode and allow us to quickly respond to any imminent flooding threat. East Dakota Water Development District also underwrites some of the cost on

Continued on Page 15

October 2010 3

Madison Now Home to SD Rural Water

South Dakota Rural Water realized a long-time goal in February when the organization became the new owner of the former Heartland Consumers Power District building in downtown Madison. The Association had been renting office space in Sioux Falls since its organization in 1976 and continues to rent office space in Spearfish to service the needs of West River rural water users.

A building committee was appointed at the March 2008 SDARWS board meeting and included Big Sioux Manager Martin Jarrett.

The group researched sites in Sioux Falls, Hartford, Humboldt, Tea, Dell Rapids, and other rural areas and considered purchasing buildings as well as buying land and building a new facility. Access to business services, fleet maintenance, lodging and catering were all considerations at each site.

Following a bus tour of options in December 2008 by the building committee, interested directors, and others, the committee recommended purchase of the Heartland Consumers Power District building with relocation of the office to

By Dan CarlsonChairman, Big Sioux CWS

Continued on Page 14

4 October 2010

MEYER HONEYLook closely. The honey-filled

bears you see in the store could have come from a bee yard right here in South Dakota.

Alfred Henry (A.H.) Meyer emigrated from Switzerland in 1911 as an 11-year-old boy looking for a new life. He and his father worked in Oregon and Utah together until they were able to bring the rest of their family to the United States.

While in Utah, A.H. began working for a local farmer named N. E. Miller. Miller put A.H. in charge of the beehives he had on his property and over time, Miller began sending A.H. to California with the bees during the winter.

A.H. would ride the trains with the bees, and he packed several barrels of water on the train to make sure the bees stayed hydrated.

Eventually, A.H. and his brother Gus, began their own beekeeping business. As their families grew, it was only natural for the two brothers to split their business. Gus took the Utah area and A.H. took the Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana area.

As beekeeping is a migratory business, A.H. continued looking for land that would produce the best honey. He found that place in the Dakotas.

In the late 1950s, A.H. and his sons, Irel and Jack, came to the areas of Yankton and Winfred, South Dakota. Their bees thrived on the abundance of sweet clover in these areas. A.H. Meyer and Sons, Inc. did not have the manpower to run thousands of colonies at this time. Instead they leased 2,000 colonies to Howard Taylor in Aurora, South Dakota, with the same number of colonies to Keith Taylor in Yankton and Don Nelson in Pipestone, Minnesota.

Eventually, A.H. Meyer and Sons, Inc. grew large enough to handle all of the colonies they produced. Today they manage approximately 12,000 colonies each year.

A.H. Meyer and Sons, Inc. found a permanent home in Winfred, SD when they were able to purchase the Winfred School Building in 1964. Today, they add value to

the surrounding community of beekeepers by providing rendering services. These rendering services give beekeepers a place to bring their unsalvaged wax. A.H. Meyer and Sons renders the wax then sells it to wax filtering plants. Once the wax is filtered, it is sold to cosmetic and candle companies.

The rendering process utilizes water supplied by Kingbrook Rural Water. The frames are placed into large tubs of hot water where the wax separates from the frames. The wax is collected for resale and the frames are thrown away.

Of course, A.H. Meyer and Sons still extracts the honey they receive from their bees. They have a packaging plant in Winfred where they filter and package honey into plastic bears. They also continue to make their famous creamed honey using the recipe passed down from A.H.

During the winter months, A.H. Meyer and Sons keeps busy by sending bees to California to help pollinate the almond trees. Once they are finished with the pollination season, they ship the bees to Louisiana where they have a queening operation. It is here that their primary hives are split and new queens are introduced. This makes it possible for A.H. Meyer and Sons, Inc. to continue to have strong bees for the next honey season in the Dakotas.

Jack Meyer, Jr. and JB Meyer now own and operate the family business.

Honey extracting equipment at A.H. Meyer & Sons, Inc. located in Winfred.

Bees build a comb from the foundation of new frames like those pictured above.

A.H. Meyer & Sons, Inc. Winfred, South Dakota

October 2010

Question: What activity in my home uses the most water?

Answer: Toilet flushing is by far the largest single use of water in a home. Most toilets use from 4 to 6 gallons (15 to 23 liters) of water for each flush. On the average, a dishwasher uses about 50 percent less water than the amount used when you wash and rinse dishes by hand if the dishes are not pre-rinsed and if only full loads are washed in the dishwasher.

Without counting lawn watering, typical percentages of water use for a family of four are: 4Toilet flushing – 40% 4Bath and shower – 32% 4Laundry – 14% 4Dishwashing – 6% 4Cooking and drinking – 5% 4Bathroom sink – 3%In the United States, the National Energy Act of 1992 requires

low-volume toilets in new construction or as replacement in existing homes after January 1, 1994. Businesses were to have complied by 1997. Ultra-low-flow (ULF) toilets are available that use only 1.5 to 1.6 gallons (6 liters) for each flush.

Question: Some people say I should put a brick in my toilet tank to save water. How does that save water, and is it a good idea?

Answer: Toilet flushing uses a lot of water, and putting something in the toilet tank that takes up space means that less water will be used each time the tank refills after a flush. However, putting a brick in your toilet tank is not a good idea. A brick tends to crumble and might damage the toilet’s flushing mechanism.

Instead, use a glass jar or a jug filled with water. Because some toilets require a certain volume of water to function properly, be sure to test the toilet to make sure it’s still flushing well after any changes. NOTE: Never use your toilet as a trash can. Using several gallons of water to get rid of a tissue is very wasteful.

Also remember that toilet tanks can leak. To check, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait about 15 minutes, and look in the bowl. If the food coloring shows up there, the tank flap is leaking and should be fixed. Toilets should be checked for leaks every year.

You should also periodically check that toilet nestled away in the corner of the basement. Even a small leak caused by a miss-seated tank flap can waste an extraordinary amount of water.... 1 gallon per minute leaked equals more than 43,000 gallons a month!

(Excerpts taken from “Plain Talk About Drinking Water” by Dr. James M. Symons) Reprinted from Plain Talk About Drinking Water, 4th edition, by permission. Copyright © 2001, American Water Works Association.

Conservation Question & Answer

5

A yearly flu shot and good personal hygiene are the cornerstones of preventing influenza, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Influenza is responsible for illness, hospitalization and death in South Dakota every year. During the 2009-2010 season an estimated 30% of South Dakotans were ill with H1N1, including 2,300 laboratory-confirmed cases, 435 hospitalizations and 23 deaths. Additionally, approximately 31% of South Dakota children missed school due to illness and many people missed work due to their own illness or staying home to care for sick family members. During the previous season, there were 525 confirmed cases of flu, 131 related hospitalizations and 4 deaths.

Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache, fatigue, and chills. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. It spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing or talking with someone who has the flu. It can also spread when people touch something with flu virus on it (phone, doorknob, etc.) and then touch their mouth, eyes or nose.

Most people with the flu will recover at home without medical care. However, those whose symptoms are severe or who are at high risk for complications from the flu should seek medical care. This includes pregnant women, young children and those with underlying health conditions. Treatment with antiviral medication may be advised for these high risk groups.

Flu VaccineBecause influenza viruses are

always changing, the flu vaccine is updated every year and an annual vaccination is recommended. The 2010 seasonal flu vaccine will contain the H1N1 virus which is expected to continue circulating so two separate vaccinations will not be necessary. It takes up to 2 weeks for protection to develop after the shot and protection lasts up to a year.

In previous seasons flu vaccination was recommended for those at highest risk (older adults, pregnant women, young children, and those with chronic health conditions). Federal health officials now recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older. The recommendation is new for the 2010-2011 season and signals the importance of preventing influenza across the entire population.

Flu vaccine is available in two forms: injectable or nasal spray. The injectable vaccine contains killed virus and cannot cause influenza. It can be given to individuals ages 6 months and older. People who are allergic to eggs or other vaccine components should not receive the injectable vaccine. Individuals who have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS) should consult with their doctor about whether they can be vaccinated.

The nasal spray vaccine contains a live but weakened virus that cannot grow at normal body temperatures and cause flu illness. Millions of doses of seasonal nasal spray vaccine have been given safely and effectively since it was first approved in 2003. It is recommended for use in healthy people 2 years through 49 years of age. It is not recommended for pregnant women because studies

Children and adults should wash hands frequently to protect against germs.

What You Need to Know about Preventing the Flu

6 October 2010

have not been done among this population to assess the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. It is a myth that people vaccinated with the nasal vaccine can transmit the virus to others. The vaccine virus is not transmitted to others – people do not need to be excluded from work or school after receiving it.

You can get the vaccine as soon as it is available, usually in the fall, and for as long as illness is occurring in your community. Influenza can occur any time from November through May, but it most often peaks in January or February. Getting vaccinated in December or even later will still be beneficial in most years.

These public health measures are simple but highly effective in preventing disease.

Caring for the Flu Patient at HomeMost normally healthy people

who get the flu can recover at home on their own by taking the following steps:– Stay home, drink plenty of fluids and rest as much as possible. Avoid travel.– Stay home from work or school until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone – without the use of fever-reducing medicine.– Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.– Sneeze or cough into a tissue or into your elbow.– In general, avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness.

If symptoms are severe or you are at high risk for complications, seek medical care.

South Dakota Child Influenza Vaccination Initiative

Each flu season children account for a significant percentage

of flu cases and hospitalizations. Immunizing children protects them from the complications of flu and also reduces the spread of the disease in schools and communities.

Since 2007 South Dakota has provided free flu vaccine for kids aged 6 months through 18 years. School-based vaccination clinics are typically held in October and November. Parents can check with their school to find out whether clinics are being scheduled. They can also contact private medical clinics or one of the Health Department’s local community health offices to get their children vaccinated. A listing of childhood vaccine providers can be found on the department’s Web site

Everyday Preventive ActionsBasic personal hygiene can help prevent the spread of influenza, colds and other respiratory diseases. In addition to getting an annual flu shot, basic hygiene includes the following steps:

aWash your hands often with soap and water to protect against germs. Use alcohol-based hand gel if soap and water aren’t available.

aWhen you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or cough into your elbow.

aDon’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread when you touch something that is contaminated and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

aIf you’re sick, stay home and keep your kids home when they’re sick – for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone (100ºF or greater).

aPractice other good health habits – get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, and avoid smoking.

at http://doh.sd.gov/LocalOffices/Vaccine.aspx. While the vaccine is free, providers may charge an administration fee.

Children younger than 9 who are receiving flu vaccine for the first time should get two doses of either the injectable or the nasal spray vaccine. The two doses should be given at least 4 weeks apart. Influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine.

For more information about influenza visit the Department of Health Web site at http://flu.sd.gov.

Submitted by Barb Buhler, S.D. Department of Health

7October 2010

8 October 2010

Think Combine Safety For A Good Harvest

The stress and rush of harvest time can be a recipe for disaster. Couple that stress with the size, power and moving parts of a combine and you can see the need for a good safety program and procedures during harvest season.

The combine is among the most dangerous machines on farms in South Dakota. Agricultural Injury Surveillance Statistics show that the combine, grain auger and tractor were the machines most involved in South Dakota agricultural injuries.

Farmers and agricultural equipment operators should think ahead to establish safety procedures that prevent injuries. The key to preventing disasters during the harvest rush is to establish good habits and think through potential hazards.

Combine safety procedures on your farm should

include the following:4Set aside time to properly

prepare the combine for harvest. Rushed repairs may lead to injuries. 4Conduct a safety check before

taking to the field. Replace all guards and shields that may have been removed. Replace or repair all lights that don’t work – especially transport lights, such as headlights and taillights. 4Examine fields for hazards

such as erosion washouts and other surprises that can develop during the growing season. Alert other workers to those hazards too. 4Adjust and service the combine

as directed in the operator’s manual. There are usually some adjustments that need to be made while the machine is running, but others should be done with the machine stopped and the key removed from the tractor or the combine’s ignition switch. Remember the hazards posed by straw choppers and spreaders - allow adequate run-down time before approaching the rear of the combine.4Always refuel the combine or

tractor after it has cooled. Fuel vapors can easily ignite on hot engine and combine parts. Refueling accidents are a major cause of combine fires. 4Make sure there is suitable

fire-fighting equipment (e.g. a fire extinguisher) available on the combine. The extinguisher should be regularly checked and accessible from the ground.

Combine Hazards Include:– Becoming entangled with the leveling or discharge augers in the grain tank– Falling from the combine– Contacting overhead power lines– Being run over– Contacting the knife, reel or stripper rotor– Contacting the straw chopper or spreader– Being trapped under the header or injured by the header falling from its transport trailer– Being injured by the drive mechanisms– Dust– Fires– Noise

Continued on Page 9

9October 2010

WARNING!Think Combine Safety For A Good Harvest

Avoid injury from thrown objects.

Chopper rotates in windrow position.

Never raise shield with engine running.

Do not ride ladder while combine is moving.

Avoid crushing injury.

These warning signs appear on combines to ensure safe operation.

4Grease and check the combine in the morning when your mind is fresh. Put the ignition key in your pocket while you are working on the combine so no one can start it or the tractor while you are working on the machine. 4Check hydraulic leaks carefully.

Use a piece of cardboard, wood, or sheet metal to detect leaks. Hydraulic oil under high pressure can easily be injected through the skin and result in serious medical problems. 4Drive the combine only while

you are alert and aware of your surroundings. Hours of steady operation can lull you into a hypnotic state. To avoid this dangerous situation, schedule a break for all workers every two to three hours. Change jobs with someone else who can operate the combine for a while.

4Use the safety stops on the header lift cylinders when working under the header. Don’t trust hydraulics with your life. 4Keep your distance from other

vehicles and machines. Combines need a lot of room to maneuver and have large blind spots. Always be aware of the location of other equipment. Move combines from field to field only during daylight. Driving combines on public roads after dark can be very risky. The size of a combine, coupled with its unfamiliar shape and lighting pattern make it a dangerous hazard on the road after dark. 4To control dust and noise,

always operate with the cab door shut. Exposure to high levels of grain dust causes ill health, including occupational asthma, Farmer’s Lung, grain fever, chronic bronchitis, allergic eye and nasal infections.

Submitted by Dick Nicolai, Associate Professor/Extension Specialist, South Dakota State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

10 October 2010

The Rapid Valley Water Service Company was organized on January 19, 1962 by several local citizens who saw the necessity of having a safe drinking water supply as most of the area was using water from shallow wells. A nine-member Board of Directors was elected by the original 133 members of the cooperative. Loans were obtained from Farmers Home Administration for the initial installation of water mains, water towers and wells.

According to longtime Manager Jim Jester, Rapid Valley Water Service was the first rural water system in South Dakota to receive a loan from the Farmers Home Administration. By 1965, approximately 300 households were members of the cooperative.

The same individuals who formed Rapid Valley Water Service foresaw the need for a sewer collection system to eliminate the pollution of the area caused by faulty septic systems. They established Rapid Valley Sanitary District in 1966. It was founded primarily to provide water and sewer service to the small rural community that had developed, which at the time was approximately 10 miles east of Rapid City.

WORKING TO FIND A RELIABLE WATER SOURCERapid Valley Water Service

Company’s first well was constructed in 1962. However, this well quickly closed because of poor production. Two more wells were dug in the 1960s, but both were eventually closed due to high radium content. A well was completed in 1990 in the Madison Formation, which is one of the larger and deeper aquifers in the Black Hills,

but it had to be closed one year later because of problems with the casing.

An underground gallery was installed along Rapid Creek to use surface water. In 1980 a water treatment plant was located on Rapid Creek. This treatment plant was taken off-line in 2007 when a newer facility was constructed. For many years the District purchased water from the City of Rapid City. The District has worked to become more self-sufficient in the production of water, but continues to strive for a spirit of cooperation with Rapid City.

Improvements to both the water and sewer systems have been financed through loans, grants, bonds, special assessments and by original local contributions.

THE MERGERIn 1993, the five-member Board of

Trustees for the Sanitary District and the nine members of the Water Board decided it would be in the best interest of the customers and employees to merge. The merger became effective on July 21, 1994. The new company is a quasi-governmental entity that operates under the name Rapid Valley Sanitary District-Water Service.

The District employs nine people: the general manager, two office personnel, five service people and one meter reader. Four of the employees have each worked for the District for more than 21 years, thus adding to the richness of the District’s historical resources.

RECENT IMPROVEMENTSFor many years, the District’s office

was a small cement block building.

System Spotlight: Rapid Valley Sanitary District/Water Service

11October 2010

Intake on Rapid Creek.

Rapid Valley’s high service pumps. Reservoir Road tank constructed in 2009.

Three major renovation projects took place at that physical site to add adequate office, meeting and garage space. In 2002, the South Dakota Department of Transportation built an overpass directly adjacent to the District’s office, thereby rendering the building useless to the District as there was no longer access for equipment. The District purchased land and built a new office building that nearly tripled existing space.

The Rapid Valley area is a fast-growing area on the outskirts of Rapid City. In fact, part of the Rapid Valley service area is within city limits due to recent expansion by the city. The District and the city work closely to provide high quality service to their customers and residents. The District currently

serves approximately 3,800 connections.

A new 1.85 million gallon tank was constructed in 2009. The concrete tank was built partially underground and serves the low level part of the District. This is the fifth tank in the system. Rapid Valley Sanitary District-Water Services now has 3.5 million gallons of storage.

Rapid Valley began making infrastructure upgrades in 2009, including new water and sewer mains and the addition of a booster station to increase water pressure.

Rapid Valley Sanitary District/Water Service will soon undergo treatment facility improvements. Plans are underway to add a third microfiltration unit, which forces

water through filters until it is clean and exceeds drinking water quality standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. The upgrade will increase treatment production from 2 million gallons per day to 3 million gallons per day and allow Rapid Valley the capacity to potentially serve Green Valley and Longview Sanitary Districts.

RAPID VALLEY’S FUTURERapid Valley Sanitary District-

Water Service continues to look to the future to provide high quality drinking water to its consumers. This commitment to the future involves all the employees as they increase their skills and education to stay abreast of the ever-changing water industry.

System At A Glance:Service Connections: 3,800Miles of Pipeline: 50Treatment Capacity: 3 million gallons per day

October 2010

Cleaning dishes, washing hands and taking showers are a few of the ways we depend on water heaters for our daily needs. Whether gas or electric, water heaters are generally very reliable and quiet. Water heaters can last several years if properly maintained.

Three basic types of water heaters are manufactured – gas, electric and on-demand. Gas and electric models are essentially a tank with a heating source that stores heated water until needed. On-demand units heat the water as it is used.

Gas water heaters have a glass-lined tank surrounded by insulation, a dip tube on the cold water inlet pipe, a hot water outlet, a sacrificial anode, a temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P), a gas burner and a vent. Electric water heaters are much like gas heaters, except the heating source consists of two electric elements. Electric heaters typically come in two styles: glass-lined steel tank and plastic tank.

Annual maintenance should include draining the tank to remove sediment and exercising the T&P valve. The amount of sediment in your tank will depend on your water quality. To drain the tank, follow these steps: 1. Turn the gas burner to “pilot” or the circuit breaker to off if electric.2. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank.3. Turn off the cold water supply to the heater and carefully open the T&P valve by lifting the lever. 4. Open the drain valve at the bottom of the heater (be careful of hot water coming from the hose). When the hose runs clear, you are done.

If there is a large amount of sediment in the tank, it may not flow out through the drain valve. Draining the tank completely and replacing the valve with a full-port ball valve will make sediment removal easier. To refill the tank, close the drain valve, close the relief valve, open a hot water faucet and turn the cold water supply back on. When the water runs clear from the faucet, turn the burner/breaker back on. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintenance.

Other basic maintenance includes inspection of the vent on gas models to make sure it is aligned properly and checking the piping connections and area under the heater for signs of leaks. A drip pan can be installed under the heater to catch any water that might result from a leak. Lowering the temperature setting on glass-lined electric and gas models will also help prolong the life of the tank.

More advanced maintenance includes replacement of electric elements, replacement of the sacrificial anode (plastic lined tanks do not have anodes). Check your water heater manual or online sources for more information.

Water Heater Maintenance Assures Long Life

Gas Water Heater

Marathon Electric Water Heater

T&P Valve

Drain Valve

Bowl shaped bottom for easier draining

Material based on content from Bob Formisano, Guide to the Home Repair Site at About.com, article http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepairs/ss/hwh_maintenance.htm and http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/hwh_tank_gas.htm

Gas Shutoff Valve

Gas Supply Line

T&P Valve

Drain Valve

Gas Burner

Gas BurnerControl

12

T & P Valve

Drain Valve

Brookings-Deuel Capital Improvement ProjectBrookings-Deuel Rural Water in east central South Dakota along the Minnesota Border is installing some main line pipe in their service area to the north, east and west of Brookings. The pipeline project consists of six miles of 6-inch main line and 1.5 miles of 3-inch main line. The goal of the project is to increase capacity to the existing service area and tie two main lines together that are located on each side of Interstate 29. The contractor for the project is Chris Willmott and Sons Excavating. Brookings-Deuel Rural Water is funding the project internally as a capital improvement project; the estimated cost is $275,000.

13

Rosebud Rural Water ExpansionRosebud Rural Water System in southwestern South Dakota has projects underway that are affiliated with the Mni Wiconi Water Supply Project. O’Bryan Construction from White River is constructing a 1 million gallon tank near Rosebud Ridge as a part of the system expansion project. Rosebud Rural Water System received $3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) money. The system is using this funding for the installation of generators for production wells and construction of a water tank for the Sicangu Village community and the Rosebud Casino. The next phase of the project to bring Missouri River water to the Rosebud Indian Reservation is to connect the city of Mission. This will involve installing main line from where the Mni Wiconi line ends near the Rosebud Grocery Store, a mile west of Mission, into the city.

Fall River Water User District System ImprovementsThe Fall River Water User District, in southwestern South Dakota, has several major projects in the works to provide service to new customers and improve service to existing users. The North Expansion Project will install 46 miles of new pipeline to add 73 new users to the system. One of the new users is the town of Buffalo Gap that serves around 160 people. The project also includes a new 185,000 gallon storage reservoir near the system’s north well. Cost estimate for this project is $2.3 million. The System Improvement Project will install 26 miles of PVC pipe to improve water service to existing users. The project also includes moving one mile of main line on Fall River Road. This is due to a highway construction project that will widen the two lane section of road from Maverick Junction towards Hot Springs to four lanes. The water line size will be increased from 8-inch to 10-inch. As for additional storage, this project includes a 132,000 gallon reservoir near the community of Ardmore. Cost estimate for this project is $1.7 million.

Rural Water Across South Dakota

October 2010

October 201014

Madison, a more central location of the water systems in eastern South Dakota. The purchase agreement for the Heartland building was signed in early 2009 and South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems took ownership of the property February 1, 2010.

As Chairman of the Big Sioux Community Water System and President of the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems (SDARWS), I feel the decision of the Board of Directors to relocate the SDARWS office from Sioux Falls to Madison was a good one.

SDARWS has 14 employees, with 11 working out of the Madison office. This includes two Madison residents that were hired in 2009.

The building has suff icient office spaces, a conference room and some storage areas. However, since some of the areas planned for storage are now offices for four new positions added to the staff in 2009 after the decision to purchase, options for additional storage and training areas are being considered.

In February the Association returned to the place where it all

started in 1972 - Madison. Rural water enthusiasts met in Madison on October 11, 1972 as a first step in forming a steering committee for an organization called the “South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems.” Loren Paulson of Big Sioux CWS was elected chairman at its first meeting in Pierre. The organization operated as a steering committee until a charter was granted by the State of South Dakota for a non-profit corporation in January 1976.

Big Sioux CWS has benefited from the move by having quick access to professional assistance. Towns within Big Sioux CWS’s service area also utilize South Dakota Rural Water’s services. Association field staff have provided technical assistance on different occasions to Wentworth, Colman, Egan, Chester and Flandreau Indian School.

SDARWS is proud to be a new member of the Madison business community, and they look forward to working toward the advancement of rural water issues in South Dakota.

Continued from Page 3

Services provided by South Dakota Rural Water: Certification TrainingSafety TrainingWastewater TrainingBoard of Directors TrainingCapacity DevelopmentCompliance AssistanceLeak DetectionValve LocationLine TracingSmoke TestingChlorinator OperationSewer CameraEmergency Response PlanningSource Water ProtectionWater Rate AnalysisDistribution Operation & MaintenanceState & Federal Legislative ActionRegulatory Oversight

Sid Munson of SDARWS (left) assisting with leak detection in Colman in 2009.

Source Water Protection Specialists Conrad Pick and Lindsey Wasland performing a source water assessment.

Wastewater Technician Jerry Hemeyer operates a sewer camera. Dan Carlson (right) and SDARWS Executive Director Dennis N. Davis observe.

October 2010 15

these local gauging points.Mankind’s history of trying

to control water has been full of unintended consequences, whether under designing dams or wiping out species of fish and other wildlife. In almost every case, it has been man’s lack of fully understanding the cause and effect of his actions that has resulted in problems. Right now, in our service area there has been an unmistakable surge in the use of tiling. No one can argue the fact that tiling speeds up the movement of soil water to area streams, rivers and lakes. What concerns me is that I am unaware of any county modeling the effects of these changes. In a water supply system, before a new hookup is added, the capacity of the system is studied, looking at the impact the new service will have on the carrying capacity of the pipeline in the immediate area of the hookup, the adjacent mainline pipelines and maybe even the treatment plant and system as a whole. In a reverse sense, by adding additional volume and flow to a creek or river, we may be exceeding the capacity of the drainage system causing additional erosion and flooding downstream. Tiling is a marvelous water management tool, but I feel a liability exists at the county level in not having a firm grasp of the hydrologic consequences

of altering drainage. Hopefully the Counties can find some guidance from First District Planning and the East Dakota Water Development District, both local governmental service agencies that I believe have the combined skills to provide the GIS modeling and defensible understanding needed to modify our county drainages.

COMMUNICATIONS, ONLINE BILL PAY &

METERINGBig Sioux CWS now has

several options in bill paying. Most of our customers are still on a self-read system. With this method, the consumer is sent a coupon book and self addressed envelopes and pays by check. Some customers pay by “bill pay” through their financial institutions, some pay by ACH, where the customer instructs Big Sioux CWS to make a transfer from their bank accounts, and some choose payment by credit card. Members can also phone in their readings and credit card numbers while others choose to email that information. In the past few months we have been looking into setting up an online bill pay program, similar to those offered by most other area Utility companies. During this transition time we have had some issues with accepting some consumer emails depending on the provider of the consumers email service. I am glad to say

that Big Sioux CWS now has its own domain name and will now be accepting readings and all other consumer requests through the new email address bscws@bigsiouxcws.com. This new email address will be advertised on all subsequent issues of this publication and future mailings.

Change seems to be the only constant these days, and so it is in the water meter industry also. Presently most consumers get their monthly readings from a “remote reader,” a mechanical reader that is mounted close to their water meter. Our meter company, having made this reader for over 40 years is finally ending production. This dictates that in the next couple of years we need to start working on a different means of relaying that meter reading. Several alternatives exist, from working with our local REA and piggybacking on their automatic meter reading system, setting up an automated reading system ourselves, continuing with a self-read system by supplying our customers with a magnetic “fridge mounted” reader, and so on and so on. Quite a few choices are out there. Although change always seems to bring additional cost, you can be sure that the Staff and Board at Big Sioux CWS will be carefully considering the best, most affordable long-term solution.

Continued from Page 2

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Big Sioux Community Water System23343 479th Ave.Egan, SD 57024

Big SiouxCommunity

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