BROOKINGS Two new possible solutions have come to light in the saga surrounding the water supply issue at Edgebrook Golf Course in Brookings, both involving wells one of which would have to drilled as it doesnt yet exist.
Were exploring some additional options, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Kristin Zimmerman told Park & Recreation Board members at Monday nights meeting.
One of those options is a new well being drilled on land at the golf course. This comes on the heels of coring samples from Brookings Municipal Utilities showing a below-ground makeup that holds the tantalizing potential for usable water and the fact that the aquifer itself may have shifted a bit closer to Edgebrook than previously thought.
The core samples originate from when work was done on Exit 130, the citys third, and newest, interchange with Interstate 29, which partially borders the south side of the golf course. Essentially, theres a layer of sand and gravel, followed by a layer of clay, then another, small, layer of sand below that.
With the original well drillers, Dell Rapids-based Lacey Well Drilling in 2021 when they did their test-well sites, as soon as they hit clay they told it was not usable water, Zimmerman said. I think it would be prudent if we went to another company and see if they kept going and hit that sand layer, if we can get water there.
She continued, The aquifer has shifted a little bit, so its a little bit more in our favor, which is great, but thats not to say that five years, or even a year from now, itll shift back. So I just want to see what the water quality would be in that sand layer a little lower. Its at the 32-foot depth mark, and if we can get a well there on-site, I think that would be best.
Zimmerman said Banner Associates would be involved in the endeavor as part of its $24,500 contract with the city.
Softball well
The second option involves an underutilized well at the Southbrook Softball Complex. It currently serves the complex, but it might also be able to send water to the golf course as well.
BMU is going to be doing some studies to see if it would just be quicker and more efficient and we would have more control if we could just upsize that pump with the existing casing if that would get us enough water pressure, Zimmerman said. Were right on the bubble where they may not be able to make it work.
She noted that if that option makes the cut, a BMU-provided estimate indicates it would cost far less to implement, even including pipeline and boring, than a $812,000 proposal to bore under I-29 and draw water from the L.G. Everist pond on the interstates east flank.
That said, theres a caveat. We also have to keep in mind that we would still have to purchase the water from BMU, too, Zimmerman noted. So, what is that cost-benefit analysis? I just want to make sure its the best long-term solution for us.
Responding to a board members question, she said theres no chance of running out of water with the Southbrook option, as the aquifer is pretty deep as soon as it hits Dakota Nature Park and the nearby softball fields.
Zimmerman estimated that if that Southbrook option works, construction could likely begin in spring 2025. Aside from lower projected costs, other benefits would include not having as much red tape, as state and federal permitting wouldnt be issues, better proximity, and not having to deal with water rights.
In a couple of other Edgebrook notes, she also said:
Additional PFAS tests have been ordered for water in the L.G. Everist ponds.
PFAS are a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products around the world for well over 50 years, and they do not degrade easily in the environment, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The U.S. Golfing Association will be at Edgebrook on July 11 for its assessment.
I wanted them to come out here (during) the challenging part of our summer so that they could really take a look at our course when water will likely be an issue, Zimmerman said.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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