Kenmare gets relief in NAWS pipeline plan

KENMARE (AP) - The advisory board for the Northwest Area Water Supply project has decided to extend a pipeline from Minot to this city next year.

NAWS already is on track to build a $4.25 million pipeline between Minot and Berthold this year. Kenmare officials had asked the advisory committee to continue laying pipe from Berthold to Kenmare.

Some northwestern North Dakota communities say drought and stricter federal drinking water standards are making it difficult to wait much longer for Missouri River water. Under the plan, the city of Minot would provide some of those communities with treated groundwater until Missouri River water can be piped north through the NAWS system being constructed.

The availability of Minot's water would eliminate Kenmare's need to build a water treatment plant to comply with new federal standards for arsenic.

"It's like hitting a $1.7 million lottery," Kenmare Mayor Roger Ness said. "With what we were looking at for cost, this is just unreal for us."

The State Water Commission and a federal judge still must agree to the Kenmare pipeline construction, but neither is expected to oppose the plan.

A federal judge must approve any NAWS construction until an environmental study identifies the best treatment method for the river water. The study is the result of a lawsuit filed by the Canadian province of Manitoba, which worries about the potential transfer of harmful material into its waters. Only construction unrelated to treatment can proceed with the judge's permission.

The projected cost of the Kenmare pipeline is about $2.8 million. Money could come from Minot's NAWS sales tax if the Minot City Council approves.