New regional water district will bring treated water to three western Minnesota counties

HALSTAD, Minn. — Rural residents in three northwest Minnesota counties could soon have a new way to get clean drinking water, thanks to a newly-formed regional water district.

On April 17, a Clay County District Court judge approved the formation of the West Central Regional Water District. The approval of the district allows for the development of a community-based infrastructure network that delivers treated drinking water to rural homes, farms and towns, according to a press release from the West Central Regional Water District.

Lucas Spaeth, chairman of the West Central Regional Water District, said the water district and future water infrastructure will provide rural residents and towns with clean and clear drinking water.

“We’ve had a lot of testimonials of people that really need water, and they need it quickly,” Spaeth said.

The entire service district includes much of Clay County, all of Norman County and portions of Polk County. The initial project area, where project leaders will focus initial outreach efforts to residents, includes northwestern Clay County, eastern Norman County and southwestern Polk County.

At present, many rural residents get their drinking water from private wells, which can contain unsafe levels of chemicals like arsenic and manganese, Spaeth said. For small towns, the cost of operating and maintaining water infrastructure can be burdensome.

Participation in the water district will be voluntary. Spaeth hopes potential state funding and grants will keep costs lower for area residents who want to join.

So far, a few municipalities plan to partner with the water district, Spaeth said, including Halstad and Climax.

Preliminary plans for the first phase of the water district’s infrastructure call for new water lines in the initial project area. The district plans to purchase water from the water treatment plan in Hillsboro, North Dakota.

“We’re optimizing what we have as existing infrastructure while we build out the water line system,” Spaeth said.

Work to gain judicial approval to create the district began in 2022. The West Central Regional Water District is Minnesota’s first new water district in 40 years, according to the water district’s press release.

The creation of the district will impact public health, economic vitality and quality of life, said Sen. Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead, in the press release. The senator represents parts of rural Clay County that are part of the new district.

“Reliable access to high-quality drinking water is fundamental to community growth and long-term sustainability, and this project delivers a strong foundation for both,” Kupec said.

Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, called the formation of the water district a thoughtful and locally-driven effort to address water supply issues in the region. His district overlaps with most of the new water district.

“Across Clay, Polk, and Norman Counties, residents have faced ongoing concerns related to water quality, quantity, and long-term reliability,” Johnson said. “The formation of this regional water district reflects a proactive and collaborative response to these challenges.”

With the district created, the focus now turns to getting funding for the first phase of the project. The water district requested $10 million from the Minnesota Legislature for the initial buildout, Spaeth said.

“We think that will be highly significant in getting that water built out for our rural customers, as well as some of the municipalities,” Spaeth said.

If the legislature funds the first phase of the project, the water district plans to continue outreach to residents in the initial project area, Spaeth said.

More information about the West Central Regional Water District, along with an interest survey, is available at wcrwd-ae2s.hub.arcgis.com.

Ingrid Harbo joined The Forum in March 2024.

Harbo reports on Moorhead and Clay County news.

Readers can reach Harbo at 701-241-5526 or iharbo@forumcomm.com.