§ 61-24.6-01 — Findings and declaration of policy

North Dakota § 61-24.6-01

• Jurisdiction: North Dakota
• Title 61: Waters
• Ch. 61-24.6: Northwest Area Water Supply Project

Text

Many areas and localities in northwestern North Dakota do not enjoy safe drinking water,
and the water in these areas and localities contains iron, sulfates, alkali, salt, nitrates, fluoride,
and other hazardous and discoloring substances. Other areas and localities in northwestern
North Dakota do not have sufficient quantities of water to ensure a dependable, long-term
supply. Supplementation of the water resources of northwestern North Dakota with water
supplies from the Missouri River, utilizing a pipeline transmission and delivery system, may be
the only alternative to provide northwestern North Dakota with a safe, good quality, dependable
source, and adequate quantity of water.
Effective development and utilization of the land and water resources of this state; the
opportunity for greater economic security; the protection of health, property, enterprise, and the
preservation of the benefits from the land and water resources of this state; and the promotion
of the prosperity and general welfare of all of the people of North Dakota involve and require the
exercise of the sovereign powers of the state and concern a public purpose. To accomplish this
public purpose, a project to supply and distribute water to the people of northwestern North
Dakota through a pipeline transmission and delivery system for purposes, including domestic,
rural water districts, municipal, livestock, light industrial, mining, and other uses, with primary
emphasis on domestic, rural water district, and municipal uses must be pursued. In furtherance
of this public purpose, the state water commission may provide for the issuance of bonds in
accordance with chapter 61-02 to finance the costs of the project.
This chapter may not be construed to limit the rights, powers, duties, and functions of the
state water commission or the department of water resources, but must be considered
supplementary to those rights, powers, duties, and functions.