SIRWA holds annual meeting; new plant, helping Osceola with supply

The use of its new water treatment plant highlighted the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association’s annual meeting held Wednesday at Supertel Inn and Conference Center in Creston.

Highlighting the meeting was a review of the association’s new water treatment plant east of Creston. Since the plant opened the first of the year, SIRWA has created about 300,000 million gallons of water. The plant produces about 4.3 million gallons a day. Water for the Creston plant comes from Three Mile Lake. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has begun an extensive improvement project for the lake. Plans are to improve shoreline and various fish habitat and access to fishing. The work has required the water levels in the lake to be lowered. Work is expected to be finished in early 2025.

As of 2023, the association has 9,530 rural customers; 2,217 city customers; seven bulk customers and 1,376 wastewater customers. Of the water supply, 85% of it is produced at SIRWA’s new plant that opened the first of the year east of Creston. The remaining amount of water for its customers is from Greenfield, Leon, Corning and Osceola.

The association is also involved in the planning and construction of a reservoir in Clarke County to add to water supplies. Osceola has been on water conservation plans because of the limited amount of water and dry weather patterns. The Clarke County Reservoir Commission has 789 acres of land northwest of Osceola and is researching additional funding at state and federal levels.

The start of construction on the dam and reservoir base is projected to begin in May 2027 with a target completion date of December 2029.

“SIRWA sees its highest number of new annual service connections in Clarke County.” said SIRWA co-manager Jeff Rice at an Osceola water meeting earlier this month. “Without an additional water supply reservoir, our ability to continue serving the water demand in the Clarke County service area is a big concern.”

“Our community is growing, and our community deserves a safe supply of water. Bottom line is we have to have an additional supply,” said Osceola Water Works Superintendent Brandon Patterson.

Total operating revenue for SIRWA for 2023 was $14.8 million, up $1.99 million from 2022. Total operating expenses for 2023 was $9.41 million, an increase of $245,521 from 2022. Year end net position was $91.78 million for 2023. That is an increase of $2 million from 2022.

The amount of water sold between 2023 and 2022 was similar. In 2023, the amount was 1.36 billion gallons, a decrease of 2.78 million gallons.

Members in attendance nominated and re-elected two incumbents to the board. Marlin Marckmann will continue to represent Adair, Cass and Madison counties. John Walston will continue to represent Taylor and Page counties. Walston is chairperson of the board. Both are serving three-year terms.

Other board members include Tony Mullen, Adams and Montgomery counties; Anne Welker, Clarke, Warren and Lucas counties; Larry Griffith, Decatur County; Joan Jackson, Ringgold County and Chad Malmanger, Union County. Griffith is vice chairman of the board.