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SWPP, Missouri West Water System (MWWS) will provide service. Now in its 20th year of construction, the SWPP brings raw water from Lake Sakakawea to Dickinson where it is treated and distributed to 26 communities and approxi- mately 2,600 rural customers in southwestern North Dakota. The most recent accomplishment of the SWPP occurred last season. With the completion of the main transmission line to Beach, the cities of Beach and Sentinel Butte received water last year, while the city of Medora received water at the end of February this year. While the SWPP has made great strides in construct- ing this efficient network of pipes and appurtenances, two regions within the SWPP await construction — Phase II of the Medora, Beach, Morton Service Area and the Oliver, Mercer, North Dunn Service Area. Pockets in eastern Morton County, where the Millers re- side, are included in Phase II of the Medora, Beach, Morton Service Area. When complete, Phase II will also serve the city of Golva and 430 rural customers in western Stark, Billings, and Golden Valley counties. "The total estimated cost to construct the Medora, Beach, Morton Service Area is $15.5 million," says Ray Chris- tensen, manager /CEO of the Southwest Water Authority (SWA), the entity charged with management, operations, and maintenance of the SWPP. In response to limited fed- eral and state funding, SWA and other water entities state- wide, working jointly with the North Dakota Water Coali- tion, developed a "critical needs" list for statewide water projects. Those needs, totaling $13.6 million statewide, were presented to the North Dakota House and Senate Appropria- tions Committees of the 59th North Dakota Legislative As- sembly by the North Dakota Water Coalition. This request is the minimum of additional funding required to keep key projects moving forward. "The critical needs funding request, if fully approved, would increase SWPP funding for construction from $2.6 million to $7.6 million this biennium," explains Christensen. "The $7.6 million will not allow us to complete Phase II of the Medora, Beach, Morton Service Area in the next bien- nium, but it may allow us to complete construction in the next two bienniums." Christensen, the entire SWA board of directors, manage- ment, and staff are resolute in their pursuit of funding to complete SWPP, including Phase II of the Medora, Beach, Morton Service Area and the entire Oliver, Mercer, North Dunn Service Area. According to SWA chairperson Loren Myran, develop- Missouri West Water System's Crown Butte Tank will serve 15 rural customers in northern Morton County in addition to those currently served by MWWS. Approximately 80 customers in southern Morton County will be served by the Missouri West Water System's Flasher Tank, located north of the city of Flasher. This is in addition to the customers currently served by this tank. North Dakota Water ■ May 2005 9