EPA No Consumption Order
Nebraska’s Santee Sioux Nation has been without safe drinking water after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a no consumption order in 2020. The Santee also remain under a 2025 Administrative Order. The wells that provide drinking water to Santee had readings of manganese of more than 50 times greater than the value considered safe for adults. In 2025, updated water quality tests showed that several water quality parameters have decreased in concentration from 2009 to 2023.
However, manganese, iron, coliform, and E. coli have all increased. Manganese increased 7.3 times over the 14-year period.
“Our people need water and the tribe does not want to pursue a Band-Aid fix, we are looking to pursue generational change so our children's children don't have to battle this problem.”
Alonzo Denny, Santee Tribal Chair
The Preferred Solution.
A Multi-Generational Regional Water System
The Water System Capacity & Infrastructure Improvement project has been identified as the viable solution. The purpose of the project is to develop, design, construct, and administer a bulk drinking water delivery system, with all associated pipelines, pumping, and ancillary structures necessary to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to the Village of Santee and surrounding rural tribal areas. By delivering treated water from Randall Community Water District to Santee, the project will be the solution to local water quality issues that have resulted in unconsumable water and dilapidated existing facilities.
The projected $43 million project includes an approximately 40-mile water transmission line, along with necessary infrastructure, aimed at delivering clean and reliable water to the Tribe. The project’s starting point is at an existing storage structure near Wagner, South Dakota and would deliver clean water to the
Santee Sioux Nation in Knox County, Nebraska.