NEW TOWN (AP) - The Three Affiliated Tribes won't support a plan to divert Missouri River water across the state to the Red River Valley until there is running water throughout the Fort Berthold Reservation, the tribal chairman says.

"Our needs should be taken care of before any Missouri River water is sent to the Red River Valley or any other direction," Chairman Marcus Wells Jr. said. "Finish us first. This is something we've been waiting for, for 50 years."

The Missouri River dissects the Fort Berthold Reservation in western North Dakota, but many people on the reservation still haul their water for drinking and cooking.

"We don't wish having no potable water on anybody, but this is a trust responsibility, a treaty obligation and settlement issue," Wells said.

Fort Berthold Rural Water, a program of the Three Affiliated Tribes, has the goal to bring good quality drinkable water from the Missouri River to people and businesses across the reservation.

Marvin Danks, administrator of Fort Berthold Rural Water, said it would take more than a decade to complete all water projects on the reservation - if funded at about $15 million annually by the federal government.

Funding for water projects has averaged about $1 million since 1986, Danks said.

This year more money has come in, including $9.2 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

"This is the first year we've ever seen this amount of money," said Felicia Felix, a construction administrative assistant for the tribe.

Danks said about 500 businesses and individuals on the reservation are connected to the Fort Berthold Rural Water system. The goal is to have at least 1,000 more businesses and individuals connected, he said.

"We are thankful for the funding we've received this year, but it needs to continue for the next 10 to 15 years to complete all these projects, Danks said. "With this funding, we are just getting going."