Waterless urinals. Infrared flush valves. Those are among water-saving options the Rapid City School District might look into as it reacts to higher city water rates.

The city's water rates will increase Feb. 1 to cover system operating and maintenance costs and to finance almost $130 million for new water treatment plants. All rates are going up about 15 percent, then about 10 percent per year for the next 10 years.

By 2013, the school district's bill will be more than two and a half times the current rate. The estimated expense for 2008 is about $180,000; the cost will rise to $490,000 by 2013. The district currently budgets between $200,000 and $250,000 a year for water, said Ron Minks, energy manager for the district.

The city's water rate increase comes as the school district is entering its second year of multimillion-dollar cuts to its operating budget. The board has proposed a 5 percent across-the-board cut to all operating expenses - including water and utilities.

"When we have these type of increases, that hurts, it really does," Minks said. "We're going to look at everything we can."

City Public Works Director Robert Ellis said that 63 percent of the district's water consumption is for watering grass and about 37 percent for such uses as toilets, drinking and cooking.

Minks said the district watered high school football fields last year as part of the district's budget cuts. He will have final numbers on how much that saved the district for the school board and administration next week.

District budget finance manager Dave Janak said there has been talk about alternative options for the district, including using water from Rapid Creek that runs behind Central High School, or drilling a well.

"There's a lot of things we would have to consider," he said.

Minks said he would meet with city officials but anticipated that they would not support pumping from the creek.

"I'm sure they would be totally against it," he said. "With Central so close to the creek, it would be a nice option, but I don't think the city would be for that."

Ellis said the city provided school officials with the estimates for what the increases will cost district taxpayers.

"We've heard no negative comments or feedback," he said. "I'm sure they understand that's the cost of providing that water."

Compared to surrounding states with cities comparable in size to Rapid City, the new water rates are exactly in the middle, he said.

"We went from relatively cheap to average prices for water," he said.

Minks said he will review the history of each water meter at each district building to see where the most water is being used.

Janak said he is hoping something can be done.

"It affects the budget over time very substantially," he said.

"It was just unbelievable the increase, there's just no way we can manage. I won't pretend to know how the (city) calculated that; I just know we can't be on the receiving end."

Watering options District budget finance manager Dave Janak said there has been talk about alternative options for the district, including using water from Rapid Creek that runs behind Central High School, or drilling a well.

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com