Water supply options CHS fertilizer plant

Update..

Jamestown (CSi) As CHS officials continue to look at starting construction this summer on its planned $3 billion nitrogen fertilizer plant at Spiritwood, questions remain on the project,

That includes establishing a water supply and a final design plan and a construction schedule.

The plant will reportedly use 4,000 to 5,000 gallons of water per minute.

A water plan and a water reuse facility near Spiritwood are under review by the North Dakota State Water Commission, and could, if approved, provide enough water for the planned CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant.

Additional capacity for future projects, could also benefit.

The State Water Commission’s Jon Patch, says, a water plan option would draw water from the Jamestown and Spiritwood aquifers based on the levels of the aquifers.

The Jamestown Aquifer runs under the James River and James River Valley and is quite shallow. Its levels vary with the changes in river flows. The Spiritwood Aquifer is a larger and deeper aquifer with a larger supply of water.

It might also be supplemented by Missouri River water delivered by pipeline.

Stutsman Rural Water District is applying for permits to draw water from the Spiritwood and Jamestown aquifers to supplement the greywater.

A regional water reuse facility would take in a significant amount of wastewater from Cargill Malt for about one third of the water supply with about two thirds coming from groundwater.

The reuse facility would take in greywater from Cargill Malt, Dakota Spirit AgEnergy and Great River Energy’s Spiritwood Station.

Greywater is treated wastewater and is commonly allowed to flow into the James River.

Construction would be timed so that completion of the water reuse plant would coincide with the completion of the CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant.

During plant construction crew camps are likely to spring up, near Spiritwood, with arrangements the contractor’s responsibility, with about 1,800 construction workers anticipated to be in the area during parts of the three-year construction process.

CHS is a farmer-owned Fortune 100 corporation involved in agricultural product marketing. It is headquartered in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

Jamestown  (CSi)  CHS officials are looking to start construction this summer on its planned $3 billion nitrogen fertilizer plant at Spiritwood.

CHS Ag-business, Senior Vice President, Brian Schouvieller, says while questions remain on the project, CHS is committed to building the fertilizer plant.

He adds, “Work this summer is still doable if things are worked out in a timely manner.”

That includes establishing a water supply and a final design plan and a construction schedule.

Possible water supplies being discussed include a reuse plant that would process wastewater from the city of Jamestown and local industrial users into water for use by the CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant. Another solution would be a pipeline to deliver Missouri River water to the plant. Both solutions are in the planning stages and may be utilized.

Crew camps are likely to spring up, near Spiritwood, with arrangements the contractor’s responsibility, with about 1,800 construction workers anticipated to be in the area during parts of the three-year construction process.

CHS is a farmer-owned Fortune 100 corporation involved in agricultural product marketing. It is headquartered in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.