ABERDEEN, S.D.(AberdeenInsider)- A regional water project could get a generous contribution from the federal government.

City Manger Robin Bobzien said Water Investment in Northern South Dakota, commonly called WINS, might get millions more from the American Recovery Plan Act, potentially more than $10 million.

No totals have been finalized, Bobzien said at the conclusion of the Aberdeen City Council meeting on Monday, April 22 at the Municipal Building. But the project was discussed during a meeting last week in Pierre, he told council members. Representatives from the city, WEB Water and BDM Rural Water met with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, he said.

Bobzien briefly discussed WINS during the city manager’s report of the meeting. He said there is American Recovery Plan Act money that was designated for other South Dakota projects that can’t meet the spending deadlines.

That money — about $28 million is the total that was discussed during the legislative session — has to be obligated by the end of the year and spent by the end of 2026.

WINS is in a position where it can use the money and meet the deadlines, Bobzien said.

WINS is a collaboration between Aberdeen, BDM and WEB Water and consists of 148 miles of pipeline and associated water treatment and storage infrastructure.

The project will expand WEB’s capacity and provide 4 million gallons of Missouri River water for Aberdeen, which now draws water from the Elm River and wells.

Hopes are that WINS can eventually provide more water for BDM and perhaps be the sole source of water for Aberdeen.

WEB has already received about $35 million in federal stimulus money administered by the state to start expansion work.