DORGAN COMMITMENT BRINGING NEW WATER PROJECT FOR PARSHALL AND SURROUNDING AREA
Monday, June 30, 2008
CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551
(PARSHALL, N.D.) – Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) joined officials from the city of Parshall and the Three Affiliated Tribes today for a signing ceremony celebrating the construction of a new drinking water project in the area. Once completed, it will serve Parshall, the northeast part of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Mountrail County rural water users and the energy industry.
Dorgan, Chairman of the Senate’s Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, helped bring the two parties together to plan and develop this project and he plans to secure $8.4 million in Fiscal Year 2009 for it. The project involves building a new treatment plant in Parshall, a new Lake Sakakawea intake and a new pipeline infrastructure.
“This project will be a major benefit to both Parshall and to the rural water system of the Three Affiliated Tribes,” Dorgan said. “I’ve been working to make sure this area has a dependable source of drinking water available. The expanding energy development in the area will benefit from this project as well.”
The project will also bring service to the northeast part of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, where there are significant unmet needs.
The demand for water from energy companies in the area has increased. Parshall has been providing treated water for oil exploration and production needs through bulk water sales since mid-2006. The exploration of the Bakken Shale Formation has increased the need for more water.
Because of these reasons, Parshall and the tribes have come together on a regional water supply solution. Construction is planned to start this summer.
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