MADISON – After nearly 35 years of waiting, Madison has become the last city in South Dakota to connect to the tri-state Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. On August 21, 2024, local leaders, South Dakota’s congressional delegates, and economic leaders gathered to celebrate this significant milestone.
Earlier this month, Madison’s 6,000 residents began receiving water from the system. The pipeline, which spans 310 miles, covers southeastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa. The $700 million system now serves around 350,000 people.
Connecting to the system improves water quality in Madison and boosts economic development by increasing water capacity, particularly for agriculture, said state Senator Casey Crabtree.
“This means more growth opportunities that wouldn’t exist otherwise, Crabtree said.
Senator Mike Rounds emphasized that water development is crucial for economic development, comparing the Lewis and Clark system to the expansion of electricity and broadband in rural areas.
We’re making it possible for young people to stay in rural parts of our country, not just in towns but in agricultural areas as well, Rounds said. This kind of development across states is essential.
Madison plans to blend its existing water sources with pipeline water to ensure a steady supply during droughts or other emergencies.
The pipeline’s final construction step involves building a water treatment plant in Vermillion and increasing water capacity to 44.19 million gallons per day. The federal government funded most of the pipeline, which faced delays due to poor funding but is now expected to be completed by 2028, thanks to a $152.5 million boost from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Though South Dakota’s congressional delegates didn’t vote for the bill, the federal support has been vital in pushing the project forward. The pipeline’s first expansion began in 2022 and is expected to be finished by 2030, increasing capacity to 60 million gallons per day.
The Lewis and Clark system has inspired similar projects across South Dakota, with many communities eyeing the Missouri River as a reliable water source for the future.
The Missouri River is the only untapped, reliable water source in the state, Larson said. We need to fully utilize this resource.