Over 30 years ago, a group of communities and rural water systems across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota began to discuss the long-term need for a secure water supply for the region. This group eventually became the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System – a collection of 20 water systems with a shared vision for the future of the region. Lennox has been a member of the system for some time and was connected to the LCRWS system in July 2012. Since then, Lennox has ceased the use of old water wells and an outdated treatment plant, joining several other communities in using Lewis & Clark as their sole source of drinking water.
The water we receive from Lewis & Clark plays a vital role in the success of our community. Homes have safe, pre-softened water to drink and use for daily needs. Businesses have a reliable source of water for their commercial and industrial needs. Parks can offer improved amenities – such as the community pool – to families from across the area. While all of these daily use needs are important, one use overshadows daily needs, and that is the future of the community.
As the region continues to grow, we need to look toward the future needs of a community such as Lennox. When Lennox joined Lewis & Clark, we reserved 440,000 gallons per day. While today’s water use in Lennox is between 150,000 and 250,000 gallons per day, that use is increasing. The day when we exceed 440,000 gallons per day may be years or even decades into the future, but we understand and recognize that the need for even more water could be just around the corner. After all, it wasn’t all that long ago that Tea and Harrisburg were small rural communities just like us! Just one major industrial expansion could use up a significant portion of that remaining capacity, thereby limiting use in other areas of life.
With an eye toward that future need, the Lennox City Council agreed in 2021 to be a part of the LCRWS system expansion to 60 million gallons per day, increasing water availability for Lennox to approximately 650,000 gallons per day. That expansion has been underway since that time, with current work to expand the water treatment plant in Vermillion underway. This expansion does come with a cost, with Lennox responsible for approximately $1.4 million by the end of 2031. However, continued support from the tri-state Congressional delegation for increased federal funding of the system continues to bring the member costs down, decreasing the need for Lennox customers to shoulder the financial burden. The entire community is grateful for the support of Senator Thune, Senator Rounds, and Congressman Johnson for their continued and steadfast support of this system!
As Lennox continues to grow, it is our responsibility to ensure the growth is met with safe, reliable drinking water. Our continued membership in and support of Lewis & Clark will ensure that we meet that responsibility head-on!