North Dakota Success Stories
New water source eliminates community health risk
Where: Granville, in McHenry County, North Dakota.
Problem: The community was faced with a violation of an Arsenic level of over 10 ppb, triggering an enforcement notice from the North Dakota Department of Health.
Solution: The Midwest Assistance Program provided community residents and elected officials information regarding the severity of the problem, follow-up testing procedures, the process for filing a request for an Exemption to the Department of Health and information about alternative water supplies in the area.
As is the case in many communities, residents do not always fully understand issues with drinking water supply and safety. For that reason, staff of the Midwest Assistance Program conducted an interest and attitude survey of the community’s general population. This answered a number of questions regarding the real need for an alternative water supply.
In an attempt to determine the real water supply cost to community residents, MAP staff conducted a rate study of the present system and made a comparison of this system to the true cost of purchasing water from a regional water system in the area.
Technical assistance by MAP was provided to the community in the negotiation of a purchase agreement with North Central Rural Water Consortium to provide a safe and reliable source of water to the community. In addition MAP assisted with the development of an application to USDA/Rural Development to provide funding to the community for upgrades to the present system, as well as to cover cost of the connection fee to the North Central Rural Water system. The community was successful in receiving a 71 percent grant from USDA/Rural Development and is presently in the process of connecting to a safe and reliable source of drinking water.
For more information, contact:
Phone: 952-758-4334
Fax: 952-758-4336
E-mail: map@map-inc.org
MAP is a member of the RCAP network and an equal-opportunity lender, provider and employer.