Northwest Area Water Supply South Prairie Water Storage and Control Enhancement

Background

Houston Engineering partnered with the North Dakota Department of Water Resources, the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, the US Bureau of Reclamation, and the City of Minot throughout the development of the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) project.

The NAWS project will supply pretreated raw Missouri River water to the Minot Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) for treatment prior to distribution to the Minot service area, the northern tier North Dakota communities, and regional water systems that participate in the project. The system will address current and future water needs as well as community concerns regarding poor water quality and volume availability from current water sources.

The Project

The South Prairie Reservoir and Control Structure is one of many phases of the NAWS project. The South Prairie Reservoir and Control Structure will provide strategic system storage and controls required to convey pretreated raw water from the Biota Water Treatment Plant at Max to the Minot Water Treatment Plant. The 10.5 MG ground reservoir and flow control structure are located approximately 11.5 miles south of Minot along US Highway 83.

The project features a precast concrete building that houses the valving and controls for the facility.  A series of valves and electronic controls are used to monitor and regulate reservoir levels as well as water pressures and flows through the system of pipes that enter and exit the reservoir.  The reservoir features prestressed concrete walls, a concrete dome roof, and a flexible membrane concrete floor allowing for settlement while maintaining watertight integrity.

Houston Engineering was instrumental in design and construction of the South Prairie Reservoir and Control Structure.  Houston led the project development and design and also oversaw the construction.  Houston was on site to ensure affective construction by providing construction surveying services and on-site support and documentation by our resident project representatives (RPRs). Our team saw the project through to conclusion by managing the construction closeout, performing final inspections, and preparing record drawings.

Winner of the Gold Star Award in the Site Cast/Tilt Up Category, 2025.