A new Bismarck water supply intake is the focus of a public information meeting set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Public Works Building, 601 S. 26th St.

"It's been five years since beginning the investigation,"utility operations director Keith Demke said. "What we're going to do is update what the project looks like, where we're at on the schedule and detail some construction we're going to do this year."

When complete, sometime in 2010 or 2011, the $15 million project will produce 35 million gallons of water a day.

The existing intake, which takes water from the Missouri River, is limited to 30 million to 32 million gallons daily. The old intake will be kept in place to help meet peak demands and help provide the 50 million gallons it's estimated Bismarck will need in the next 20 years.

The new intake gathers its water from under the Missouri, through the gravel layers that act as a natural filter. The intake will provide 95 percent of the community's needs.

This summer, an access road will be built to the sandbar where the intake will be constructed. A concrete caisson will be sunk 120 feet into the ground. From the caisson, a well screen will be pushed out radially into the gravel layers.

Demke said that the intake's location is a high profile area - 2,000 feet south of the new Liberty Memorial Bridge - and that's one reason the city wants residents well-informed on the project.

"The beauty of this project is that it is totally immune from anything going on in the river," Demke said. "We'll be pulling water from gravel layers underneath the river. If the river's frozen, it's no big deal. If there's a lot of silt coming down, it doesn't have an effect. The sand and gravel filter the water. The temperature doesn't fluctuate much; it's a much more reliable supply. And we don't need to worry about a sandbar migrating in and plugging up the pipe."

The new intake will provide a better quality of water as the primary source. By keeping the old intake in place, it will allow for maintenance of the new intake without interrupting service.

The meeting will include a Power Point presentation at 7:30. This will provide background information, why this type of intake was selected over others, what the project will look like, timeline and cost.

The project hasn't been bid yet, Demke said. Plans and specifications are still being put together. Hopes are to advertise for bids in April or May, with bid opening in early May or June. Construction will begin in the summer. Remaining projects include a pump station and transmission pipe.

This type of intake project is highly specialized, and Demke said he doesn't expect any local contractors to bid, but he said he does expect parts of the project to be constructed by local subcontractors.

A similar intake serves Kansas City, Kan., providing 40 million gallons daily. Several of these intakes are being built or are in place south of Bismarck along the Missouri, although this is the farthest north, Demke said.

"The public meeting will use the open house format which is being used a lot," Demke says. "People can come in look at the maps, drawing and visit with staff."

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktrbune.com.)