FORT TOTTEN – Bottled water was being distributed to residents on the Spirit Lake Reservation this week after the discovery of elevated levels of manganese in the water system managed by SL Water Resources.

The Spirit Lake Tribal Council issued a public notice of the manganese issue on May 27. The situation affects all residents within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation, according to a news release from the tribe.

In response to the findings, the tribe’s incident command team, composed of various tribal departments, is developing a comprehensive plan to provide safe drinking water to residents. The distribution of bottled water that began Wednesday was prioritizing families with infants who rely on formula, elders and individuals with medical conditions, such as those who are immunosuppressed.

The Waste Management Department will be providing dumpsters in each district specifically for the disposal of plastic waste.

The Spirit Lake Tribal Council also announced it is seeking assistance from state and federal agencies and is collaborating with neighboring tribes to secure additional resources.

“We are exploring options for water filtration systems at our four district recreation centers, and we are aware that the Mission district rec center is currently equipped with a functioning water filtration system. Water testing will be conducted at each recreation center by the Office of Environmental Health to ensure the safety of drinking water,” the tribe stated.

Arrival and installation of a temporary water filtration system was expected to take about two weeks, requiring water distribution efforts to continue to June 11.