By Steve Browne 

DEVILS LAKE – Valley City residents concerned about the increase in the Sheyenne River’s suflate level might wonder when the city can expect sulfate-laden water to arrive.
That question made up a large part of the discussion at the Devils Lake Outlet Advisory Committee Meeting on Tuesday at the Ramsey County Courthouse.
The Devils Lake outlet is currently building additional pumps to allow the increased pumping rate from 100 cubic feet per second to 250 cfs.
According to Dale Frink, North Dakota State Water Commission engineer and chairman of the committee, the National Weather Service forecasts a relatively dry year.
This will enable the Devils Lake outlet to pump significantly more water than in the past, which could quickly raise sulfate levels to the 750 milligrams per liter level allowed in an emergency ruling by the North Dakota Department of Health. The Health Department is considering making the rule permanent.
Sulfates are a naturally occurring chemical that health officials say has a laxative effect on humans.
Frink was careful to note there is a competing theory that holds this winter’s weather could be cold and wet, comparable to last year. And unlike last year, any snowpack in the upper Sheyenne River valley  may completely run off, because this year the ground is already saturated and cannot absorb anymore water. This would dilute the high sulfate, but raise the risk of flooding.

For full story, see the 11/12/2009 edition of the Valley City Times-Record.