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Rural Water Development Program

In 1986, the federal government authorized a change in the Garrison Diversion project that gave it responsibility for delivering water to North Dakota cities, towns, rural communities and growing industrial users. The Municipal, Rural and Industrial (MR&I) water supply program helps North Dakota communities bring a clean, reliable supply of water to their residents, farms, schools, hospitals and industries. The needs continue to grow. An additional $200 million has been authorized in the Dakota Water Resources Act to help meet statewide water needs.

Garrison Diversion has helped dozens of municipal, rural and industrial water systems deliver needed water to homes and businesses across North Dakota. Much more than a matter of convenience, clean reliable water can mean the difference between success and failure for small towns and family farms.

North Dakota's four largest reservations are home to most of the state's Native Americans. Like the rest of North Dakota, Fort Totten, Fort Berthold, Turtle Mountain and Standing Rock Indian Reservations are faced with shortfalls in water quality and quantity. The reservations have received Garrison Diversion grant money to develop and improve water delivery to their residents and businesses.

Southwestern North Dakota is served by a major water pipeline, Southwest Pipeline Project, providing Missouri River water. Numerous other water projects throughout the state help communities manage other existing water supplies and distribute the water to those who need it. The challenging work of encouraging and evaluating municipal, rural and industrial water supply projects is shared by Garrison Diversion and the North Dakota State Water Commission.

Southwest Pipeline

Part of the MR&I program was the Southwest Pipeline, a regional system of pipelines that will bring a clean reliable source of water from Lake Sakakawea to areas of arid southwestern North Dakota. Dickinson was among the first municipality to benefit from the pipeline. Since then, a number of other communities in the southwest have received water. The benefit to municipal areas is almost immeasurable.

Northwest Area Water Supply Project

Another part of the arid west-central section of North Dakota is waiting for a taste of clean, clear water that many of their neighbors to the south are already enjoying. Water from Lake Sakakawea will be pumped as far north as Sherwood, to Bottineau in the east, and Divide County in the west. The city of Minot will also get its water from the Northwest Area Water Supply Project. Like the Southwest Pipeline and the other MR&I programs, the $165 million Northwest Area Water Supply project will be funded at 65 percent federal funds from Garrison Diversion and 35 percent with local funds provided by the communities that will use the water. After construction, the cost of operating the water delivery system is born by the user, who purchases the water.