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

Idea for System forms in 1973 and 1974 because of comments and questions regarding sources and quality
January 1975: Area-wide survey conducted
March 1975: Informational meetings held
April 1975: Advisory Board selected

Ernest Schmidt - Vermillion
Kenneth Mockler - Vermillion
Jens Hansen - Burbank
Ray Schulz - Vermillion
Melvin Walz - Wakonda
Willard Jensen - Beresford
Donald Huth - Wakonda
Russell Anderson - Wakonda
Loren Johnson - Beresford
Darrel W. Johnson - Burbank
Arnold Larson - Beresford
Robert Schurrer - Vermillion (Clay County Extension Office)
Roger Strom - Centerville
John S. DeVany - Vermillion

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.
July 21, 1975: System becomes incorporated
Summer 1975: Board and approximately 38 volunteers assist with sign-ups for feasibility study. By September 1,017 have signed on.
January 1976: Engineering Feasibility Study completed. Decision made to proceed.
February 1976: Final sign-up meetings in four locations in 3 days yield 730 hookups. Later sign-ups bring total to 980.
Fall 1976: Final engineering design
Fall 1977: Funding secured for $4.5 million
April 1978: Bids awarded, construction begins
October 1980: Construction completed. 1,050 users served
August 1982: Town of Wakonda connects
1986: Added User Project adds 75 new users.
1988: Office and Shop building constructed
1989: Original system debt refinanced, saving $4.4 million
1991: Added User Project adds 75 new users
1995: $1.4 million water plant improvement project
1996: Town of Gayville connects
1997: Added User Project adds 175 users
1999: Third well, storage building constructed
2001: Added User Project adds 175 users
2005: Greenfield Supply Project adds 15 miles of new pipeline and water treatment plant/booster station.
2005-2006: $5.7 million South Union Project adds 300 new users, water plant and water tower.
2010-2011: $3 million Capital Improvements Project, makes numerous system improvements, adds 96 new users
2012: Three new lime sludge lagoons are constructed at the Wakonda plant at a cost of $650,000
2012-2015: Automatic meter reading system installed at a cost of $700,000
2019-current: System capital improvements project, replacing booster, adding additional meter reading towers, additional pipeline and replaced Supervisory Control And Data Acquistion (SCADA) system.