Jul 19, 2006 - 02:10:23 CDT
The Standing Rock Indian Reservation has regained its normal water capacity after borrowing a pump to temporarily replace a faulty one.Ralph Walker, director of the Standing Rock Rural Water System, said although the tribe is back to its full capacity, conservation efforts will remain in place because the hot weather has resulted in higher usage. People are asked to not use water for outdoor purposes.
The pump was replaced on Tuesday. Officials are still in the process of monitoring the system to make sure everything is working properly.
Walker said last week that one pump was providing the system with water, but the total capacity was cut in half, which is about equal to the amount of water needed in the winter.
On July 11, the faulty pump was removed and taken to Fargo where the company, Watersmith, was working on it. Walker said the Watersmith is loaning the tribe a pump until a new replacement is purchased.
The new pump, which was scheduled to be replaced in August, will cost about $15,000, Walker said.
The EPA was made aware of the problem, but the tribe was in compliance with regulations because the system did not lose any water pressure.
The problem was 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.
(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)
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