Minot moves to finance $8.11m cast-iron watermain renewal programme
City of Minot Water and Sewer Division, North Dakota · Meeting date: November 2, 2026 · Published: November 3, 2026
Minot City Council has authorised applications for a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan to fund 2027 replacements in the Central Avenue-Garden Valley and Blaisdell-Bird Addition areas. The programme forms part of a longer-term response to more than 70 miles of cast-iron main identified for replacement.
Key points
- Council approved resolutions to apply for a low-interest DWSRF loan for the 2027 watermain projects.
- The two-project programme carries a total estimate of $8.11 million and is planned to be entirely debt-funded through the DWSRF loan.
- The Central Avenue-Garden Valley and Blaisdell-Bird schemes target existing distribution mains and associated connections.
- Utilities staff said replacing old cast-iron mains will improve water quality and fire flow, reduce breaks and lower distribution-system maintenance costs.
Full report
Minot City Council has moved its 2027 watermain renewal programme toward financing, approving the resolutions required to apply for a low-interest Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan for an estimated $8.11 million of work.
The programme comprises the Central Avenue & Garden Valley Water Main Replacement Project and the Blaisdell-Bird Addition Water Main Replacement Project. It is intended to be funded entirely through the DWSRF loan.
The decision responds to a wider distribution-renewal challenge identified by the Public Works Utilities Department: more than 70 miles of cast-iron water main require replacement over time. Utilities staff are using that assessment to develop capital improvement projects and funding requirements.
The Central Avenue & Garden Valley scheme covers the West Central Avenue corridor between 27th Street and 18th Street, plus 19th Street NW from Central Avenue to 4th Avenue NW and 17th Street NW from 2nd Avenue NW to 4th Avenue NW. Short connecting sections and intersection connections needed to complete replacement of the distribution system are also included. The 17th Street and 19th Street works fall within the Garden Valley Addition neighbourhood.
The Blaisdell-Bird Addition project covers portions of 17th, 18th and 19th streets between 4th Avenue NW and 5th Avenue NW; a short section of 19th Street south of 7th Avenue NW; and 20th and 21st streets between 4th Avenue NW and 7th Avenue NW. Most of that work is within the Blaisdell-Bird Addition neighbourhood.
Staff said the renewals are expected to improve water quality and fire flow while reducing watermain breaks. Replacing the old cast-iron assets is also intended to reduce overall maintenance costs on the water distribution system.
The watermain financing action was included in a consent agenda approved unanimously by the council. Separately, the council authorised design and bidding to proceed for a lower-cost remodel of the Public Works Water/Sewer Building. That Option 2 remodel is estimated at $1.8 million, including an estimated $1.58 million construction cost, and is intended to address roof, HVAC and space constraints at the existing facility.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: City Council Meeting, City of Minot Water and Sewer Division