North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association - News and Facts from NDRW

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced this week that it has awarded a total of $849 million to repair and improve water infrastructure projects across 11 Western states.

The funding includes more than $32 million toward water projects for four North Dakota tribes:

• Five awards totaling over $28 million for the replacement of water mains and other infrastructure on the Turtle Mountain Reservation
• Two awards totaling $2.5 million for water metering systems on the Fort Berthold Reservation
• Three awards totaling more than $1.1 million for additional pipe infrastructure and to replace equipment at a water treatment plant on the Spirit Lake Reservation
• An award for $500,000 to replace water metering systems on the Standing Rock Reservation, which includes land in North Dakota and South Dakota

“North Dakota’s tribal nations need updated water infrastructure to meet the vital needs of their communities,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said in a statement. “These awards will modernize aging systems and protect the delivery of clean, reliable water across the state.”

The funding also includes $118.3 million for 14 projects located in the Colorado River Basin, where federal officials and state negotiators are weighing high-stakes decisions about the future management of the river ahead of the 2026 expiration of current operating guidelines.

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