The Standing Rock Rural Water System facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Standing Rock Rural Water System |
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| RWS | |
 The Standing Rock Rural Water System
Location in North Dakota
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| Coordinates | 45°43′21″N 100°29′12″W / 45.72250°N 100.48667°W |
| Primary inflows | Missouri River |
| Managing agency | Standing Rock Municipal, Rural and Industrial Water Department (SRMRIWD) |
| Built | 2009– |
The Standing Rock Rural Water System (RWS) is a big water system. It cost $30 million to build. This money came from a special government fund in 2009. The system helps about 10,000 people living on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
The RWS is made of several important parts. These include a water treatment plant and a pump station. It also has pipelines that carry raw water and treated water. A large storage tank called the Kline Butte Storage Reservoir is also part of the system. This reservoir can hold 5 million gallons of water. It helps make sure there's enough water for everyone.
The water for the system comes from the Missouri River. In 2016, a new water intake valve started working in Mobridge, South Dakota. This valve is about 70 miles south of where the Dakota Access Pipeline was planned to cross the Missouri River. This new valve is designed to provide water for the entire Standing Rock Sioux reservation.
Contents
Why the Water System Was Needed
In the early 2000s, the area faced a serious problem: a long period of dry weather. This was a multi-year drought. There was less snow, rain, and river flow than usual. This caused water levels in big reservoirs to drop very low.
Water Shortage Crisis
In 2003, the water levels in three large dams were much lower than normal. For example, Lake Oahe was down by over 32 feet. This led to a crisis on November 24, 2003. About 10,000 people on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation had no water. The water intake at Fort Yates stopped working because the Missouri River water level was too low. Hospitals and schools had to close.
People were very worried about the water shortage. They wondered why water was being held back upstream. This was done to help barges move on the river in other states. But it meant people downstream didn't have enough water to drink.
Looking for Solutions
In 2004, leaders of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe spoke to the United States Senate. They explained the problems their communities faced. They talked about how the water in the Missouri River was being managed. They felt the rules for managing the river were old and unfair to their communities.
During the drought, the Game, Fish and Parks Department spent a lot of money. They tried to keep boat ramps open on Lake Oahe. But many Sioux elders remembered a time when Lake Oahe was very full. They never thought they would experience a water shortage.
Charles W. Murphy, who was the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in 2004, suggested a solution. He estimated that building a new inland reservoir at Fort Yates would cost $30 million. This new system would get water from a deeper part of the river. This idea eventually led to the creation of the Standing Rock Rural Water System.
How the System Works
The Standing Rock Rural Water System uses several water intake points. These are places where water is taken from the river or lake.
Key Water Intake Points
One intake is at Wakpala, located in Lake Oahe. There are also two intakes on the Missouri River at the upper end of Lake Oahe. One is at Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The other is at Fort Yates, North Dakota.
The Fort Yates intake is very important. It sends raw water to the Fort Yates treatment plant. This plant provides drinking water for about 3,400 people. It also supplies water to the Prairie Knights Casino and Lodge. Plus, it serves the communities of Porcupine, Cannonball, and Fort Yates.
