Water Use
Drinking Water
Drinking water is supplied to towns and cities in eastern South Dakota from either ground water aquifers, local rivers, or from reservoirs where the water supply and quality can be guanteed. When ground water is used, a series of wells are usually sunk in a well field and the pumped water can be treated in quantity before it is distributed or stored. When a river or reservoir source is used, it is usually pumped into a treatment facility for bacterial treatment, toxin monitoring, and hard water treatment before it is distributed.
There are many locations in eastern and western South Dakota which do not have a sufficient freshwater source. This has prompted the formation of regional water districts which invest in the construction of a integrated rural water sytem which ensures uniform water supply and qualityconsisting of distibution pipes and storage facilities. The fresh water source is pumped from larger reservoir or the Missouri River. Rural water use in South Dakota has grown greatly in the last 20 years due to the demand for high quality water.
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Irrigation
Water is the major limitation to higher yields for all crops grown in South Dakota. Farmers growing crops on land located above shallow water aquifers in Eastern South Dakota have a readily available source of water. Self propelled irrigation systems can supply many acre-feet of water in a reasonable amount of time. The addition of water at a critical time in the growing season can guarantee higher yields and minimize drought related crop damage. Farmers who live along the Missouri River and some of the larger reservoirs in western South Dakota also have a readlily available source of water. However, useage of this water source for agriculutral purposes is often controlled by a Federal Agency. They determine how much water can be used by farmers during a particular season since they need to balance local use and regional use within supply parameters. In addition, decision by farmers and rachers to use water for irrigation may be constrained by issues such as the cost of electricity and fuel required to drive the irrigation systems.
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Industry and Recreation
Water sources from rivers played a key role in the development of industry in South Dakota in the past. However, modern factories and industry located near major rivers receive their water sources through local municipalities and do do rely on power generated from water flow. Since the completion of the Missouri River dam construction, transportation of goods from barge and boat traffic has also ceased in South Dakota. Recreational use of rivers, lakes and reservoirs has increased dramatically in the past 50 years.
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