BREAKING NEWS: Residents of Grafton, North Dakota are celebrating a historic milestone today, October 30, 1955, as the city officially switches to a new, state-of-the-art water treatment plant. After enduring 77 years of using salty, undrinkable artesian well water, locals can finally enjoy clean, wholesome tap water sourced from the Park River.
The new $800,000 treatment facility is now operational, marking a significant improvement in the quality of life for Grafton residents. “I could hardly wait to throw away that old dipper,” exclaimed one enthusiastic housewife as she relished the taste of fresh tap water for the first time.
For decades, Grafton relied heavily on water with high salt content, which rendered it unsuitable for drinking, cooking, or even laundry. Families transported water in containers, struggling with the issues that came from using such poor-quality water. “The yellow ring in the bathtub will finally disappear,” said another resident, looking forward to the end of constant cleaning challenges.
The new water supply is not just a personal victory for residents; it also has major implications for local businesses. A cafe operator shared that he previously required 45,000 gallons of water monthly just for washing dishes and another 18,000 gallons for coffee preparation. “Now, I just turn on the faucet,” he said, relieved to have a reliable source of water at hand.
The North Dakota State School is the largest single user of this new supply, contributing 28.5% to the plant’s construction costs, underlining the importance of this development to the entire community.
Construction on the filtration plant began in mid-1954, but faced several delays due to equipment malfunctions and leaks in the reservoir. After extensive testing and repairs, the facility is now capable of treating up to three million gallons of water daily.
Carl Torkelson, the plant superintendent and former alderman, emphasized the need for residents to use the new water responsibly, as the cost will be higher than the artesian water they previously relied on. “In three months time, we’re going to wonder how we ever got along without good water,” he remarked, reflecting the community’s anticipation.
Despite traces of salt still being present as the old water is flushed from the system, officials assure residents that the transition is on track. The city anticipates that it will take about a week for the artesian water to be fully replaced by the newly treated supply.
This monumental shift represents not just a technological upgrade but a profound change in the daily lives of Grafton residents, who can finally enjoy the simple pleasure of drinking clean water from their taps. As the city celebrates, it is clear that this upgrade will have lasting benefits for years to come.
