Water Treatment Plant Expansion

UPDATED INFORMATION

The water treatment plant expansion is expected to be complete during the summer of 2025!

The City of Brandon’s water treatment plant expansion is nearly complete. New high-capacity distribution pumps went online in March 2025, new filters are planned to start operating in April, and the reverse osmosis (RO) treatment process is expected to begin operation in May 2025.

When the RO treatment process begins, softened water will flow from the water treatment plant to everyone in Brandon. The RO treatment will allow Brandon residents to reduce the amount of salt used in their water softeners, and the softened water will reduce calcium buildup on appliances and fixtures which may extend their life.

Water Softener Adjustment

Adjustments can be made to water softener settings AFTER testing the water treated with reverse osmosis occurs. Testing will provide a reading of the reduced hardness coming out of the tap. The City of Brandon will provide the measurement of grains per gallon to the public for adjusting water softener settings after testing is complete. If you have a water softener, the City of Brandon encourages you to reach out to your water softener provider to help you adjust your settings.

Project Background

On May 2, 2022, the Brandon City Council voted unanimously to move forward with a water treatment plant expansion project to meet the City’s future needs. Additionally, the City Council voted unanimously to incorporate RO treatment technology into the project to address water hardness levels.

The City of Brandon’s water treatment plant expansion project will double the capacity of the plant from 2,000 gallons per minute (gpm) to 4,000 gpm. The RO system will reduce the hardness of the City’s water from approximately 24 grains of hardness down to 12 grains.

The benefits of the water treatment plant expansion project include high quality drinking water, better fire protection for everyone in Brandon, increased capacity to accommodate future residents and businesses, and a reduced amount of salt being discharged into the environment from home water softeners.

Advanced treatment technology will ensure the City of Brandon’s water meets and exceeds water quality standards. RO is a non-chemical treatment method that provides high quality water. Brandon’s water quality will exceed standards set forth by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Project Funding:

The bid for the reverse osmosis water treatment plant expansion came in at $24,973,800. To help pay for the project, the City of Brandon applied for and was granted $7,467,900 in American Recue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In addition to the ARPA funding, the project will be financed with a 30-year bond that will be repaid using revenue from a monthly surcharge on water users’ utility bills. The surcharge went into effect in January 2023.