A 15-million dollar project to bring quality water to the city of Parshall and the people of eastern areas of the Fort Berthold Reservation was officially started today.

Groundbreaking was held for the water plan that will take water from the

deepest parts of Lake Sakakawea - here southwest of Parshall - treat it in a new plant, and distribute it over a wide area.

The project is some 20 years in the making and was finally put together when the water issues faced by people both on the reservation and in the community of Parshall were tackled together.

(Sen. Byron Dorgan, -D- ND) "They had needs, the tribe had needs and I just brought them together and said how about doing something unique and putting all these needs together into one project that will serve both the reservation and off the reservation and the city of Parshall, and it works and it's going to be a great project."


Parshall's water system has been threatened by low water levels on Lake Sakakwea in recent years.

And its capacity has been stretched by the needs of oil drilling operations in the region that use large quantities of water.

Senator Dorgan says all of those issues are addressed by the new project that is now being built. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list