Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Pump is behind water problems

Pump is behind water problems

Jul 12, 2006 - 02:10:00 CDT

By TOM RAFFERTY
Bismarck Tribune

Residents of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation are being asked to conserve water until a pump is repaired.

Ralph Walker, director of the Standing Rock Rural Water System, said residents have been asked not to use any water outside. The restriction has been in place for a couple of days.

The problem is not related to the water intake in Lake Oahe that became clogged with silt in November 2003 and left thousands of residents without water for several days. The water treatment plant is still able to get water from the intake and treat it, but one of two pumps used to get the water to a tower went down.

"It's not the intake, it's the actual plant itself," Walker said.

Walker said another pump is still providing the system with water, but the total capacity is cut in half, which is about equal to the amount of water needed in the winter.

The Environmental Protection Agencyhas been contacted by the tribe and it is keeping track of the situation.

Andrea Griese, an environmental engineer with the EPAin Denver, said the agency has been notified of the problem, but the tribe is still in full compliance with water quality rules.

"They are in full compliance because they have not lost any water pressure in the system,"Griese said.

Losing water pressure can create avenues for contamination, Griese said, which could require residents to boil water before drinking it. However, there has not been an order to boil water.

Officials hoped to fix the pump on Tuesday, but they weren't able to.

The pump was removed and taken to Fargo where the company, Watersmith, is working on it.

Walker said the pump will be returned on Monday.

Walker said the pump is scheduled to be replaced in August.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)

News > Local

Printer friendly version Pump is behind water problems

Comments

Don't Bicker wrote on Jul 12, 2006 4:33 PM:

" Hey everyone, don't bicker over a pump. Replacement means it is on order, I doubt you can just run down to the local pump store and pick one off the shelf. It makes sense to repair the damaged one ASAP, otherwise many people would be rasioning water for the rest of July's 90-100 degree heat. Once it is repaired and then replaced in August...they will have a re-built pump on hand as an emergancy back up...no money wasted...no money lost. "

Water... wrote on Jul 12, 2006 1:04 PM:

" I would like to think the highly paid individuals who work at MR & I are working to prevent things like this from happening. And I would also like to think they are trained to be prepared for such matters especially after Fort Yates and other districts have been struggling with water issues for the past few years now. Its not like the water dried up over night. I wonder if someone just happened to look out the multi million dollar tribal building and said...HEY WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MISSOURI RIVER??!! "

To Tina wrote on Jul 12, 2006 10:29 AM:

" Thank you. I honestly just skimmed the article. "

to 'To Tina' wrote on Jul 12, 2006 9:56 AM:

" Read the whole story-particularly the last sentence of the article. Tina's entry will make sense. August is only about 3 weeks away, would you spend a bunch of money on fixing something when you are getting a new one in 3 weeks? "

To Tina wrote on Jul 12, 2006 8:50 AM:

" Tina, pumps are not a dime a dozen. The cost to maintain as well as repare is rather hearty to say the least and I would imagine that with the size of a pump that supplies water to an entire city, this one would be far more expenive to replace. The time issue would probably be quite comparable to a fix in Fargo to a new purchase. Also, it is common practice to repare rather than replace when there are financial issues with mechanical equipment. "

By the Numbers wrote: wrote on Jul 12, 2006 8:35 AM:

" Ditto to that, but I think they have to follow protocol which means fix the pump in Fargo, re-install it, and in 3 weeks replace it with a brand new pump that way the can spend more money doing it this way, its about how big of a budget MR&I/OMR has, lotz of moola to do all this makes the program look really good, as for the residents sit tight and don't you dare wash your bomb. "

Tina wrote on Jul 12, 2006 7:32 AM:

" If it was to be replaced in August, why take it to Fargo and work on it; why not just buy a new one and replace it now? "

Post Your Own Comment

All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.