Current Projects

A groundbreaking was held on September 2^nd at Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water System’s (LPRW) site for a new lime-softening water treatment plant located 1.5 miles west of the City of Boyd, MN.  This 1.8 million gallon per day (MGD) facility is part of a larger $43,273,000 capital improvement project that includes source development, treatment, transmission pipeline and other systemwide improvements.  The LPRW Board of Commissioners has awarded a $24,210,500 contract to Gridor Construction, Inc of Buffalo, MN for construction of its water treatment plant; and a $4,700,000 contract to Winter Contracting, LLC of Brookings, SD for construction of 18 miles of raw and finished water transmission lines.

The goals of LPRW’s North Area Water Source Project are multi-faceted and address several key components.  The Project will provide high quality, reliable drinking water to areas with poor water quality and/or limited quantities; provide source water capacity to meet the demands of the region; provide system redundancy, improve transmission and delivery, and allow for long-term sustainability of resources.  The benefits arising from this project will bolster and strengthen the economics of the region, sustaining rural homes, agricultural entities, businesses and communities well into the future.

Funding for this project derives from several sources, including a USDA – Rural Development loan/grant mix of $26,179,000 and $2,194,000, 2021 MN State Bonding Allocation ($5,750,000) respectively, 2023 MN State Bonding Allocation ($2,514,000), municipal and rural connection fees, and owner contribution ($4,000,000).  Construction is currently underway for the treatment plant while the pipeline is slated for the Spring of 2026.  Substantial completion deadlines are October 2026 for the pipeline portion of the project, and March 2028 for the water treatment plant.

Background:  LPRW is a public water system that provides clean and reliable drinking water to 5,000 rural customers and 37 communities in southwestern Minnesota.  LPRW’s service region includes Lac Qui Parle, Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Pipestone, Murray, Rock, Nobles and Jackson counties.

OUR

PROJECTS

Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water System (LPRW) serves approximately 4,800 rural customers and 36 bulk municipal customers in 10 counties in southwest Minnesota. Originally constructed in the mid-1970’s, the LPRW system has expanded over 40+ years as demand for reliable, affordable, potable water has grown. LPRW receives water service requests and adds several dozen rural customers throughout the system every year. Periodically, LPRW completes larger construction projects, adding up to several hundred users at a time, expanding or replacing existing facilities, or completing other hydraulic improvements to the system.

NORTH AREA WATER SOURCE

Over the last ten years, LPRW has received requests to provide water service to towns and rural customers in Redwood, Yellow Medicine, and Lac Qui Parle Counties. LPRW serves existing customers in portions of all three counties but requires a new water source and significant distribution system expansion and improvements to meet demands for new water service. The proposed project includes construction of groundwater wells, a water treatment plant (WTP), transmission and distribution pipeline, and a booster pump station. The project also includes metering facilities for new customers.

HOLLAND WATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS

LPRW’s central water sources, the Holland/North Holland sources, previously used reverse osmosis (RO) and conventional pressure filter treatment processes in parallel to provide high quality drinking water. Because of discharge permit requirements, the RO process was discontinued at our Holland facility. The pressure filters continue to run and supply water to distribution, but the role of the Holland Water Source was significantly diminished in 2019 with the termination of the Holland RO treatment process and the advent of the Lewis and Clark Water Source (L&C) connection. The L&C source is currently replacing the lost capacity at Holland; however, the L&C source was intended to support system growth and expansion. As system growth and expansion continues, it is now critical that the Holland water source be restored to its full capacity.

A new process utilizing naturally occurring denitrifying bacteria present in the aquifer will be incorporated at the Holland water treatment plant to significantly reduce, even eliminate, nitrates in the source water. The bacteria play their role by converting nitrates into nitrogen gas which then simply disperses into the atmosphere. This process has been used in Europe for a number of years and is becoming more prevalent in the US.

OFFICE/SHOP COMPLEX

LPRW currently operates its main headquarters out of an old house in Lake Benton which has been modified to serve as a business office. LPRW’s primary maintenance facility and equipment/materials storage location is located about 11 miles southwest of Lake Benton. Ideally, having a centralized location for staff, as well as for parts and materials allows for efficient operation, inventory control and cost effectiveness. The City of Lake Benton has generously gifted LPRW 15 acres of land within the city limits so that we can build a new office and shop to accommodate our growing operation and stay local.