For the past two years, South Dakota State University Extension has gathered input through an online survey where state residents can describe water concerns within their communities in order to better inform management strategies at the local level.
Sushant Mehan is an assistant professor at South Dakota State University’s Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. He says the feedback they’ve received shows a common problem in the state’s larger cities.
“In the city of Sioux Falls, they had the flooding issue last year – we had huge rainfall events this year, too. So, flooding is a big concern and that leads to a concern of wastewater treatment as well.”
State and local governments face budget constraints to improve water infrastructure, but Mehan says this survey also reveals an awareness gap. He says it appears people often don’t know there are resources to turn to if they’re dealing with a water-related problem.
“The basic questions like, where to get your water tested? How can I treat my well water after the flooding?”
SDSU Extension says getting concrete data is crucial because climate change continues to impact regional water resources. Officials say water plays a vital role in agriculture, recreation and industrial development in South Dakota.
The last day to fill out the survey is Aug. 31, 2025.
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