FORT PIERRE, S.D. (KCCR) – A Mni Wiconi Rural Water System trunk line through Fort Pierre is repaired, but city officials say a water restriction is still in place until further notice. Fort Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson says crews worked long hours to get the leaky line fixed.

The line feeds all of Fort Pierre’s water and Mni Wiconi customers downstream from Fort Pierre in places like Murdo, White River and Kadoka. Hanson says the line has been leaking for a while.

The line moves treated Missouri River water through the system at 350 pounds per square inch and the pipe is surrounded by a concrete casing, making locating the actual leak difficult. Hanson says Fort Pierre has used much of its water reserve.

As of Wednesday morning at least one reserve tank had 30,000 gallons of usable water inside. The water restrictions will be in place until reserve tanks can be refilled. The water break has closed north and South Waldron Street and one lane of westbound Highway 14/34 as the leaking water has eroded the ground under the highway.