Oil Country Oasis | Video

Evan Kruegel | 2/15/2013

The demand for water is bigger than ever in western North Dakota, as residential and industrial growth continues to flourish. Thanks to some unique water depots, help is officially on the way. These depots are part of the Western Area Water Supply Project being installed throughout the western half of the state. Unlike most state-run projects, this one is being paid for by the oil industry.

Water is for sale at the 13 Mile Corner and area truckers couldn`t be happier.

"Oh this is extremely helpful having this here, it really shortens the distance us truck drivers have to go for water and it makes our turnaround so much faster," said truck driver Rick Ingraham.

"Saves a lot of time because before there were long lines, now it`s just wide open and it`s nice, state of the art," said truck driver Martin Gailey.

The opening of the depot is a big step for the state`s water supply project, which will benefit rural water users as well as industrial fracking needs.

"It`s very vital to sell this water to the industry and to have that public/private partnership. At the end of the day, when this is all said and done, we`re going to have a public water system that was paid for by the industry," said WAWS Executive Director Jaret Wirtz.

The $110 million project was paid for using state loans, but the entire cost will eventually be covered solely through water sales.

"It`s really a unique concept; this really hasn`t been done in the state. It`s a historic project using loan dollars, and having the industry pay for it with industrial water sales is a really good thing for everybody, it takes the burden off the tax payers of North Dakota," Wirtz said.

The water flows straight to the depot from the Williston water treatment plant. Once at the depot, it`s sold for 84 cents a barrel.

"At any time there could be 1,500 gallons a minute going through here, up to a couple million gallons a day," Wirtz said.

Each truck holds between 100 and 150 barrels of water, so it takes about 15 minutes to fill up. But that`s nothing compared to the amount of time these drivers save by not having to drive into town.

"The oil field is getting busier every day so the less you have to travel, the more you can get done. So it increases productivity. It`s good for everybody," Ingraham said.

Before this depot opened, truck drivers had to go all the way in to Williston to fill up on water, so the depot can save them time and increase their productivity.

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