[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   INTRODUCTION OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK RURAL WATER SYSTEM ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                            HON. TIM JOHNSON

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 1995
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing 
legislation, along with my colleague, Representative David Minge of 
Minnesota, to authorize the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System. I 
introduced similar legislation last year during the 103d Congress, with 
Representative Minge and then Representative Grandy of Iowa as original 
cosponsors. I look forward to again working closely with my colleagues 
for timely consideration of this important measure.
  The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System is made up of 22 rural water 
systems and communities in southeastern South Dakota, northwestern 
Iowa, and southwestern Minnesota who have joined together in an effort 
to cooperatively address the dual problems facing the delivery of 
drinking water in this region--inadequate quantities of water and poor 
quality water.
  This region has seen substantial growth and development in recent 
years, and studies have shown that future water needs will be 
significantly greater than the current available supply. Most of the 
people who are served by 10 of the water utilities in the proposed 
Lewis and Clark project area currently enforce water restrictions on a 
seasonal basis. Almost half of the membership has water of such poor 
quality it does not meet present or proposed standards for drinking 
water. More than two-thirds rely on shallow aquifers as their primary 
source of drinking water, aquifers which are very vulnerable to 
contamination by surface activities.
  The Lewis and Clark system will be a supplemental supply of drinking 
water for its 22 members, acting as a treated, bulk delivery system. 
The distribution to deliver water to individual users will continue 
through the existing systems used by each member utility. This 
regionalization approach to solving these water supply and quality 
problems enables the Missouri River to provide a source of clean, safe 
drinking water to more than 180,000 individuals. A source of water 
which none of the members of Lewis and Clark could afford on their own.
  The proposed system would help to stabilize the regional rural 
economy by providing water to Sioux Falls, the hub city in the region, 
as well as numerous small communities and individual farms in South 
Dakota and portions of Iowa and Minnesota.
  The States of South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota have all authorized 
the project and local sponsors have demonstrated a financial commitment 
to this project through State grants, local water development district 
grants, and membership dues. The State of South Dakota has already 
contributed more than $400,000.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not believe our needs get any more basic than good 
quality, reliable drinking water, and I appreciate the fact that 
Congress has shown support for efforts to improve drinking water 
supplies in South Dakota. I look forward to continue working with my 
colleagues to have that support extended to the Lewis and Clark Rural 
Water System.


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