Watertown has received several funding awards for upcoming projects, including the construction of a new landfill cell and development of a new well field.

In all, the city received nearly $16.9 million in loans and grants from five separate funding awards, according to a news release from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. A breakdown follows.

Mike Boerger, Watertown's wastewater and solid waste superintendent, said this funding awarded for the landfill will go toward this year's cell construction project, which is under way and set for completion later this summer. The previously awarded solid waste grant was for $400,000, he said.

Other area awards included funding for the WEB Water Development Association and James Water Development District as well as the communities of Ipswich, Mobridge, Rosholt and Tulare.

The Aberdeen-based WEB Water Development Association received a $32.71 million grant to upsize its parallel water line from the water treatment plant to the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 and U.S. Highway 12 near Selby to meet growing water needs.

WEB provides treated Missouri River water to communities, residences and businesses throughout northeastern South Dakota.

The James River Water Development District received a $5 million grant to assist landowners with installing best management practices to improve water quality within the watershed by preventing nutrient and sediment runoff. The money and other state, local, federal and private landowner funds will be used to complete work throughout the watershed.

Ipswich received a $814,112 clean water loan and a $1.77 million grant to construct a storm sewer system to help alleviate the storm water issues throughout town. 

Mobridge received a $7.123 million loan and a $3.55 million grant to replace its intake system in the Missouri River, replace water lines and either move the north water tower or install a ground storage tank with a booster pump station to increase water pressure.

Rosholt received a $1.4 million loan and a $752,500 grant to replace its existing water tower with a new, 75,000-gallon tower.

Tulare received a $1.45 million loan and a $1 million grant to increase treatment capacity, upgrade and repair its sanitary sewer collection system and extend the life of the current system. The town plans to replace the sanitary sewer, lift station and force mains to ponds. The project will also upgrade treatment ponds to a three-cell system and install new pond piping.