Local leaders, stakeholders, and team partners gathered for the official groundbreaking ceremony of the Randall Regional Waterline Project. In a public statement in support of South Dakota rural water, Governor Larry Rhoden wrote, “Access to clean, reliable water is foundational to the success of our communities, families, ag industry, and economy as a whole. During the Noem-Rhoden Administration, we invested hundreds of millions of dollars into modernizing our water infrastructure across the state, and we will continue to prioritize strong, sustainable water systems for future generations. I am grateful for the Randall Community Water District’s continued leadership in advancing these projects.”
This vital infrastructure initiative will significantly expand access to clean and reliable drinking water for the region, directly benefiting Aurora-Brule Rural Water System, Davison Rural Water System, and providing a crucial redundant water source for the City of Mitchell.
Addressing critical issues such as water demand growth, redundancy, and drought resilience that impact agricultural producers and municipalities across South Dakota, this project proactively addresses future water supply challenges. Addressing the crowd, Scott Pick, RCWD General Manager said, “Imagine getting up tomorrow, you turn on the tap and there’s no water. Let’s think about that, the value of water and the investment required.”
“The RCWD Board has made a significant commitment to the region by supporting this project. The RCWD staff, which I believe is the best in the state and one of the few that self-performs most of our work, gets up every day to deliver quality water. And now, we’ve assembled a project delivery team with skilled engineers, contractors, and subcontractors to make this project a reality,” said Pick.
The ambitious project involves the design and construction of approximately 72 miles of water pipeline extending from Platte to Mitchell. Recognizing the importance of a reliable water supply, the project also includes essential upgrades to the RCWD Platte Water Treatment Plant, along with the development of associated water storage, pumping stations, and other critical infrastructure components. Construction began in April 2025 with an anticipated overall project completion by summer 2027.