System History
The formation of the Clay Rural Water System was the result of a desire to obtain better quality water and to work together as a rural community.
Following an area-wide survey on water quality in January 1975, the system was incorporated and had signed up 1,107 locations for a feasibility study by September of that same year. Five years later the System was fully operational.
A Review of the Significant Development Events of the Water System
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Idea for System forms in 1973 and 1974 because of comments and questions regarding sources and quality
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January 1975: Area-wide survey conducted
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March 1975: Informational meetings held
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April 1975: Advisory Board selected
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Ernest Schmidt - Vermillion
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Kenneth Mockler - Vermillion
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Jens Hansen - Burbank
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Ray Schulz - Vermillion
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Melvin Walz - Wakonda
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Willard Jensen - Beresford
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Donald Huth - Wakonda
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Russell Anderson - Wakonda
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Loren Johnson - Beresford
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Darrel W. Johnson - Burbank
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Arnold Larson - Beresford
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Robert Schurrer - Vermillion (Clay County Extension Office)
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Roger Strom - Centerville
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John S. DeVany - Vermillion
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April 29, 1975: First organizational meeting held at 4-H Center in Vermillion with 60 rural residents in attendance. Twelve-member steering committee elected, later becomes Board of Directors.
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July 21, 1975: System becomes incorporated
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Summer 1975: Board and approximately 38 volunteers assist with sign-ups for feasibility study. By September 1,017 have signed on.
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January 1976: Engineering Feasibility Study completed. Decision made to proceed.
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February 1976: Final sign-up meetings in four locations in 3 days yield 730 hookups. Later sign-ups bring total to 980.
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Fall 1976: Final engineering design
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Fall 1977: Funding secured for $4.5 million
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April 1978: Bids awarded, construction begins
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October 1980: Construction completed. 1,050 users served
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August 1982: Town of Wakonda connects
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1986: Added User Project adds 75 new users.
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1988: Office and Shop building constructed
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1989: Original system debt refinanced, saving $4.4 million
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1991: Added User Project adds 75 new users
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1995: $1.4 million water plant improvement project
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1996: Town of Gayville connects
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1997: Added User Project adds 175 users
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1999: Third well, storage building constructed
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2001: Added User Project adds 175 users
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2005: Greenfield Supply Project adds 15 miles of new pipeline and water treatment plant/booster station.
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2005-2006: $5.7 million South Union Project adds 300 new users, water plant and water tower.
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2010-2011: $3 million Capital Improvements Project, makes numerous system improvements, adds 96 new users
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2012: Three new lime sludge lagoons are constructed at the Wakonda plant at a cost of $650,000
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2012-2015: Automatic meter reading system installed at a cost of $700,000
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2019-current: System capital improvements project, replacing booster, adding additional meter reading towers, additional pipeline and replaced Supervisory Control And Data Acquistion (SCADA) system.
