West Fargo Looks To Add Water Facility

 West Fargo officials are looking at plans to add a regional water facility.

The city is one of the fastest growing communities in the state and city officials say the demand for water will also be rising.

 The city draws most of its water supply from two underground aquifers.
 With the city growing so fast, it won’t be able to keep up with the demand.

Officials are discussing different options available for the city to get water, with most eyeing a regional water facility.

Pat Downs came to the latest West Fargo special meeting with his Boy Scout troop.
Downs realizes how important it is to come up with the most cost effective option.

“Lower cost option would be good from a logic standpoint, but we certainly also want to upgrade the quality of our water too and I think that’s important,” said Downs of West Fargo.

Fargo sent West Fargo a proposal to build a regional water facility, but the West Fargo commissioners had a few questions regarding some language.

“We still could go on our own, but we want to know the answers to these questions from the city of Fargo,” said West Fargo Mayor Richard Mattern.

Commissioners would like to know what “regional” means in the Fargo proposal.
They also want to know if this would be a partnership.

“In a sense I think we’re throwing the ball in their court, in Fargo’s court, here’s you got your proposal, here’s the questions we have about it,” said Mattern.

Other options for West Fargo include becoming a water customer of Fargo or building their own facility.

To work with Fargo, the price tag is around $40 million.
A West Fargo facility alone would cost around $110 million
An issue residents like Downs will be keeping an eye on.

Mayor Mattern stresses that he wants a partnership and not a buyer–seller relationship.
Leaders from West Fargo will be sending Fargo a list of questions next Monday for clarifications.