The Northwest Area Water Supply project is in line to receive $12.6 million as part of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) budget approved by the Legislature and Gov. Kelly Armstrong.

The 2025-27 funding for NAWS is based on cost estimates to complete project construction, with the exception of the biota water treatment plant phase II expansion, according to DWR.

The construction includes a permanent intake into Lake Sakakawea and screen structure, Phase III expansion of the Minot Water Treatment Plant, Souris Reservoir and Pump Station, inline booster pump stations between Kenmare and Mohall and emergency generators at booster pump stations.

The phase III expansion at Minot’s treatment plant will retrofit the portion of the plant constructed in the 1950s and 1960s to add an additional 9 million gallons of daily treatment capacity and bring the plant to the full NAWS design level of 27 million gallons a day, according to information from the City of Minot.

DWR notes the $12.6 million is state funding only. To complete the projects, DWR would make use of an additional $42 million in federal funds and $52 million from the City of Minot. The federal and City of Minot dollars include funding for previously approved projects as well.

City Finance Director David Lakefield said it will take an estimated 2½ to three years to collect enough sales tax to complete the portion of the project currently under contract. Future expansion phases are not included in that estimate. When the city moves forward with those phases, a decision must be made whether the local share will be funded using sales tax or with user fees, he said.

DWR expects to request additional funds in the 2027-2029 biennium for the biota water treatment plant phase II expansion. More money also could be sought if construction costs for this biennium’s planned projects end up higher than the estimate used in the budget.

The budget also includes funding for a second NAWS operator. DWR explains that as delivery of lake water begins to Minot this year, the project will be taking on the 43 miles of delivery pipeline. NAWS also includes 242 miles of treated water pipeline. The travel time to cover the full distribution system is 5.5 hours, DWR reported.

NAWS has 38 facilities with operator responsibilities and more than 500 appurtenances that must be visited at least once a year, according to DWR. NAWS requires an operator around the clock to tend to emergencies. A second full-time operator would enable that 24-7 coverage, DWR said.