Cherokee County

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Do you provide water services for individuals who reside in the county?

The Water Department does provide water to county residents under prearranged conditions.

How much water do Yankton residents consume each day?

The city averages approximately 2.3 million gallons of water daily.

Is our water system safe in the post-9/11 world?

Yes, the Water Department has implemented necessary security measures to ensure the safety of our municipal water supply.

Should the City of Yankton purchase Water from B-Y Water?

Key considerations in evaluating potential B-Y Water purchase include:

1. The cost of purchasing 3 MGD (Million Gallons Daily) of B-Y Water ranges from $1.6 million to $2.1 million annually - exceeding the expected annual debt service for our proposed project (approximately $1.7 million).
2. Under B-Y Water's proposal, Yankton would purchase 3 MGD daily regardless of actual need, while our Plant #2 can produce the same amount more economically.
3. The 3 MGD capacity doesn't meet critical needs during high-use days, meaning we would still need to build a collector well for critical demand and future growth.
4. Our existing treatment plants are aging and require upgrades regardless of any B-Y Water purchase.

Additional factors to consider regarding B-Y Water purchase:

• Economic Development - Future opportunities require assured water capacity
• Rate Control - Yankton can only control rates for utilities we own and operate; B-Y Water cannot guarantee future rates
• Infrastructure Investment - Public funds should go toward infrastructure we control
• Long-Term Planning - Relying on future water purchase negotiations puts Yankton in a vulnerable position

What are the main factors driving this project?

• Demand: Current infrastructure cannot meet growing water demand due to population increases and usage patterns. System capacity hasn't increased since 1972.
• Intake Damage: The 2011 flood damaged our intake when a sandbar built up beneath the structure. Channel changes make it difficult to intake pre-flood water volumes.
• Regulatory Compliance: We've experienced quarterly violations with Trihalomethanes (chlorine disinfection byproducts reacting with natural materials in our river). EPA and SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources require improvements.
• Aging Infrastructure: Our peaking plant (built 1929) and baseload plant (built 1972) use obsolete technology with hard-to-replace parts.
• System Redundancy: Critical water usage during summer exceeds 3mgd. If our 5mgd Plant 2 experiences equipment failure, we could face costly water restrictions for industrial and commercial customers.