The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR)  announced today that Big Sioux Community Water System public water system and the system's operation specialists have been awarded a Secretary's Award for Drinking Water Excellence.

"Access to safe and reliable water sources is crucial for all South Dakotan's," said DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts. "It is my honor to present the Secretary's Award for Drinking Water Excellence to the Big Sioux Water System who, through hard work and dedication, has achieved 20 consecutive years of Safe Drinking Water compliance." The system's operations specialists are Jeffrey Carruthers, Taylor Bult, Aric Olson, Chad Kneebone and Lucas Dailey.

To qualify for the Secretary's Award for Drinking Water Excellence, public water systems and their system operations specialists had to meet all of the following requirements for ten consecutive years or more:

• Compliance monitoring and reporting
• Drinking water standards
• Certification requirements

"In accordance with the Federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, and familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800)795-3272 (voice) or (202)720-6382 (TDD)."