The Devils Lake Water Treatment Plant is located south of Mac’s Hardware Store, beyond the Community Gardens.
With the news from Spirit Lake cautioning residents about drinking water, a number of people have inquired about the safety of Devils Lake’s drinking water supply. So the Journal contacted Mike Grafsgaard from the City of Devils Lake to ask some of those questions.
Grafsgaard stated that he had read some of the posts on social media and wanted to reassure residents of Devils Lake that the city’s drinking water was not in jeopardy and is safe to use and drink. The aquifer that the Spirit Lake Nation uses is the Warwick aquifer and the aquifer that the city of Devils Lake uses is the SpiritWood Aquifer. They are two different aquifers with wells located miles apart from each other.
Although Devils Lake’s water used to come from the Warwick aquifer since the early 1960s, a number of years ago the city of Devils Lake switched to the larger Spiritwood aquifer, developed a new wellfield, and deeded its old well field to the Spirit Lake Nation. They even discussed the possibility of using the City’s old pipeline from the Warwick Aquifer to aid Spirit Lake in this crisis. However, Grafsgaard said that it would not be possible because construction of dams built to protect areas from flooding required that the old pipe be removed and plugged in areas of the dams.
Grafsgaard said it is a common practice to remove iron and manganese in water supplies. The Devils Lake City Water department closely monitors mineral levels and other parameters in its water supply, as other water departments do.
He also said he has been in touch with R.J. Yankton, from Spirit Lake Water Resources, and offered his and Devils Lake’s help as they address this latest issue at Spirit Lake.
“We’re willing to help our neighbors in whatever way is practical,” Grafsgaard stated.
For more information on the City’s drinking water supply, visit the City’s website at dvlnd.com
