Orleans, IA (KICD) — The City of Orleans now has two water agreements in place. One is for Iowa Lakes Regional Water to take over operations of the city’s distribution system when they can physically get a supply line connected. The other is for the city of Spirit Lake to continue running things in the interim. Mayor Bill Maahs thanks their neighbor to the South for helping out.

Maahs tells residents the change was necessary because of more aggressive enforcement of drinking water regulations by the state. Maahs says the DNR wanted a solution some time ago, but the city wanted to investigate all options.

Maahs says a water rate hike was imminent no matter what option the city pursued.