PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- With the good news this week for Pierre rate payers that water rate increases will end for payment of Pierre’s new drinking water treatment plant, the next questions is when the plant will start pushing treated Missouri River water to customers.

Pierre Mayor Steve Harding says it could take up to 60 days to transition Pierre water distribution system from the current manganese-infused well water.

The current generation of water rate payers are picking the can up instead of continuing to kick it down the road by voting to build the plant.  Changes to federal standards for manganese in drinking water forced the move away from well water.  Harding says if the can got kicked farther the costs would be far greater.

While the cost of the plant will be below the 37-point-five million dollar estimate, Harding did not have an estimate as to how much the plant will cost when completed.