Orleans, IA (KICD) — The city of Orleans will start buying its water from Iowa Lakes Regional Water instead of the city of Spirit Lake as soon as a new distribution system can be constructed. Mayor Bill Maahs says state-mandated testing makes that a cheaper option. ILRW estimates it will take at least eleven months to get water to Orleans, but they will take over that testing and other day-to-day operations in March.

Under the current contract, Spirit Lake adds a 33 percent surcharge to Orleans water users with half of that going to the city of Orleans for water system upkeep. That 16 and a half percent will go to Regional Water until they complete their distribution system and take over the billing.