Division Summary
The division manages the drinking water supply for the City of Sioux Falls from the source to the tap.
A team of 58 highly skilled and dedicated members ensure that safe clean water is delivered to each user 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. The purification division manages the raw water supply; the Water Purification Plant which includes laboratory monitoring and regulatory compliance; water metering; and all water maintenance activities.
The Water Purification Plant is a lime softening facility originally constructed in 1956 and designed to treat up to 24 million gallons per day. Since then, several large construction projects have increased the capacity to treat and deliver up to 75 million gallons per day.
The local water supply includes ground water from the Big Sioux and Middle Skunk Creek Aquifers and surface water from the Big Sioux River. This includes 55 ground water wells and 1 surface water pump station.
The division operates and maintains an extensive water distribution and metering system to ensure safe and efficient delivery of water to each consumer while providing water for emergency services. These systems consist of over 950 miles of water mains, 19,000 valves, 7,000 fire hydrants and nearly 49,000 water meters. The division also maintains 4 elevated water storage tanks, 5 aboveground and underground storage tanks.
Revenues from water utility bills are needed to support the ongoing operation, maintenance and new construction of the division facilities. This revenue is also needed for debt service payments which include SRF funding and bond payments used to pay for the Lewis & Clark water supply.
The City of Sioux Falls is one of twenty members of the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System. This Large scale multi-state project when completed will supply up to 27 million gallons of water per day to the City of Sioux Falls which will sustain future growth for the next generation and beyond.