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Feature Stories (Vol. 110 No. 14--4/02/2008)

NAWS gets closer

By Caroline Downs

Kenmare is one step closer to improving its city water after a federal judge ruled March 18th that the Northwest Area Water Supply project can proceed with design and construction activities north of Minot.

That means specifications can be developed and bid for the segment of pipeline between Berthold and Kenmare, which will then transport water from Minot’s city supply to the two communities. For Kenmare, the new water supply will finally mean compliance with the federal arsenic mandates that went into effect January 2006.

According to Michelle Klose, NAWS project manager, permission was granted for the northern tier construction projects because that work does not affect decisions related to treatment of Missouri River water for NAWS delivery. Those treatment issues continue to be addressed by a newly-drafted environmental impact statement (EIS), and no definitive treatment action has been named yet.

Klose said the priority on the request to the court, made earlier this year, was supplemental water service to Kenmare and the Upper Souris Water District. Both entities want to address water quality issues through the NAWS system.

Klose noted project planners intend to open bids and award contracts for the Kenmare and Upper Souris Water District before October 2008, with completion anticipated by the end of 2009.

During the last week of March, representatives from the State Water Commission and Houston Engineering drove between Berthold and the Upper Souris storage reservoir to begin planning the pipeline route. "We are working to provide hydraulic information to Kenmare’s engineers in the next couple of weeks so Kenmare can proceed on their own water projects to prepare for service from NAWS," Klose said.

After waiting for more than 20 years, Berthold residents should see water service from Minot within a few months. "There are three pump stations and two storage reservoirs under construction and pipelines to be pressure tested," said Klose. "Once these are completed this summer, water can be supplied to Berthold."

She reminded area residents that water service for both Berthold and Kenmare would be from Minot’s water treatment plant until the EIS is completed for the water supply from Lake Sakakawea.

She also cautioned that Kenmare’s peak demands may be too great to be fully supplied by Minot. "Kenmare’s existing water supply may need to be blended with the NAWS supply during peak use, until the water can be supplied from Lake Sakakawea," she said. "The up side is Kenmare and Upper Souris (Water District) will have access to an additional good quality water supply."

Kenmare mayor Roger Ness requested a change to the NAWS design just over a year ago to allow for pipeline construction between Berthold and Kenmare. Project engineers determined a closed-loop alternative to deliver water in pipelines built north from Berthold and Minot Air Force Base, then connect in a pipeline constructed between Mohall and the junction of ND 5 with U.S. Highway 52, was actually more efficient and less expensive than the original project design.

The NAWS Advisory Committee immediately approved the change in March 2007. However, construction could not proceed until approved by federal court because of a long-standing lawsuit filed by the Province of Manitoba regarding the treatment of Missouri River water for NAWS that would eventually enter the Hudson Bay watershed. The EIS, drafted by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation personnel, addresses several options for treatment, one of which will be selected for the project.

Given the recent ruling on the project’s construction efforts, Ness and the Kenmare City Council will now confer with city engineer Ryan Ackerman to evaluate and plan for the necessary changes to Kenmare’s local water storage and delivery system in order to accommodate the new water supply.