$150 Million State Project To Provide Water for Municipalities, Fracking Approved -- Williston Oil Basin, North Dakota, USA

This was a fairly "hot" issue pitting developers of a $150 million "state" project against independent water suppliers.

As far as I can tell, there were two issues for legislators to consider:

• The cost and how to pay for it, if passed
• Water management: whether it was needed (whether there was a problem that needed fixing)

The bill was overwhelmingly supported by the legislature and will be signed by the governor.

Data points:

• $150 million project
• Financed by a "patchwork" of state government loans (3 loans, including one from Bank of North Dakota)
• Project to be overseen by a 11-member state board
• If the project fails/defaults, the project will be taken over by the state Water Commission and will be responsible for paying back the loan

Water will be piped from the Missouri River near Williston, North Dakota

The project will expand the Williston water treatment plan to handle 21 million gallons per day, up from the current capacity of 10 million gallons. The pipeline will extend to Grenora to the northwest, Ray to the northeast and Alexander and Watford City to the south.

Smaller lines will bring water to individual properties that don't currently have access to river water, said, David Johnson, the project's chief engineer. Those pipes should be carrying water by the end of 2012, he said.

FYI.