Southwest water plant in Dickinson set for $90 million expansion.

DICKINSON — Since early summer, Dickinson’s southern skyline has been dominated by a large crane bearing an American flag.

Operated by Rice Lake West, a Fargo-based water and wastewater treatment construction firm, the crane and flag are part of their work on a $90 million expansion to Dickinson’s Southwest Water Treatment Plant (SWTP).

The plant is operated by the Southwest Water Authority (SWA). Jen Murray, SWA’s CEO and manager, told The Dickinson Press the expansion was necessary to ensure residents of southwest North Dakota had safe water access well into the future.

“Water is critical infrastructure, it’s a necessity for all living things,” Murray said. “For the current and future growth of our region and the way water standards are going and regulations are going, this expansion