US agency approves grants to upgrade water system in South Dakota.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved an additional grant and loan package to Mni Waste Water Company to upgrade the water system in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, to meet the water needs of the area.

The approved funds, including $7m from Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, will be used by the company to build a new water treatment plant, construct a new water intake line, and develop a main line to transport treated water to the city of Eagle Butte.

Upon completion of the project, the new water treatment plant is expected to have delivery capacity of 4.4 million gallons per day.

South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson said that the USDA Rural Development grant will be used to upgrade the drinking water infrastructure in one of the poorest areas of the country.

"This expansion will enhance economic development, allow new housing construction to restart and ensure healthcare facilities have access to reliable, safe water supplies," Johnson added.

"This is good for both the health of those in Indian Country and the local economies."

South Dakota Senator John Thune said: "Over 14,000 residents will benefit from the much needed infrastructure upgrades to the Mni Waste Water system."

The existing Mni Waste Water system is unable to meet the water requirements of the service area, which also includes rural residents on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and portions of Meade and Perkins counties.

The Mni Waste Water Company has so far received $72.87m funding from the USDA Rural Development since 2010.

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Image: South Dakota is set to upgrade its water system to meet the growing demand for drinking water. Photo: courtesy of Manojkiyan.