Faucet | Pexels by Steve Johnson
Faucet | Pexels by Steve Johnson
Testing completed by the City of Pierre this week indicates the community’s transition from well water to treated Missouri River surface water is complete.
Distribution of the treated water from the City’s new water treatment plant began about a month ago. Since then, the City Water Department has been systematically flushing the old well water out of its distribution system to help expedite the transition to new water.
“The same set of pipes that took the old water to our customers is used to transport the new water as well,” said Dane Brewer, Water Superintendent. “To help move the old water out of the system, since December we have been flushing water out through fire hydrants.”
The City has been testing water chemistry at different points throughout the system to monitor the progress.
“Our mineral levels throughout all the testing points in our distribution system are now consistent with the treated water from the plant,” said Brewer. “All of our customers are receiving the new water.”
Customers who don’t use much water or who have large water heaters may still have some of the well water left in their plumbing.
“If people have concerns about that, they’ll need to drain their appliances themselves or work with a plumber to have that done; we don’t have the ability to flush appliances for customers,” said Brewer. “Other than that, no action is needed from our customers.”
Consistent with state and federal regulations, the City will continue to monitor the water chemistry and quality produced by the new treatment plant and issue an annual drinking water report with the results.
In 2020, the Pierre City Commission approved the design for the $37.5 million water treatment plant. That approval followed a 2018 public vote which showed 73% approval of the City’s plan to transition from well water to treated Missouri River surface water.
Although the water transition is complete, work not related to water production will continue at the treatment facility into 2023.
Original source can be found here.
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