BISMARCK — Bids will be opened for construction of a permanent intake and pumping plant modifications for the Northwest Area Water Supply project June 26.

According to information from the State Water Commission, the construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026. A temporary intake that will use Missouri River water for NAWS currently is under construction and is expected to be operational later this year.

The commission also recently approved an agreement with the City of Minot for water supply and treatment services for NAWS and critical pump rebuild reimbursements from the NAWS Extraordinary Maintenance Fund. The rebuild involved a 250 hp pump in the NAWS high service pump station.

In total, the commission at its June meeting approved 26 cost-share requests for more than $216 million in funding assistance for North Dakota water projects.

Among rural, regional and municipal water projects were:

– Minot, 11th Avenue Northwest watermain replacement, $120,000, and Dacotah Homes & Second Avenue Southwest watermain, $120,000.

– North Prairie Rural Water District, Mountrail County, Phase III, $2 million.

– Kenmare, 2025 watermain replacement, $867,627.

– Western Area Water Supply Authority, water treatment plant intake, phase 2, $1.25 million; McKenzie County Water Resource District System 2 Expansion Rural, $14.35 million; Northwest Rural Water District East Williston CR9, alternate 1, $1.97 million.

– Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Highway 3 Corridor Phase II, $6.85 million.

Additionally, the North Dakota Department of Water Resources (DWR), along with the water commission, recently assisted the Spirit Lake Nation with installation of a mobile greensand filter unit. The new unit temporarily replaces a failed permanent filter that had led to unsafe levels of manganese in the community’s drinking water. This emergency project ensures continued access to water that meets Environmental Protection Agency standards for about 1,100 service connections, which serve about 4,000 residents. The DWR approved cost-share participation covering 75% of eligible construction costs, not to exceed $100,000.

The SWC also approved the distribution of two Requests For Information (RFI) that will initiate legislatively required studies as mandated during the 2025 Legislative Assembly. One RFI pertains to a study of the long-term governance and finance models of three large regional water supply systems – NAWS, Southwest Pipeline Project and Red River Water Supply Project.