News Flash

By March 15, 2026, residents are required to stop pumping sump pump water into the sanitary sewer. Instead, direct it to your yard, street, or another acceptable location. This protects homes and the environment by reducing the strain on the sewer system. Discharging sump pump water into the sewer is prohibited. During freezing conditions, ensure your sump pump hose drains completely by placing it on a slope so it drains empty. For an example of how to do this, visit www.watertownsd.us/freezing.

One sump pump can add thousands of gallons of water daily, and as few as 100 pumps can add a million gallons. Given that the wastewater facility is designed to treat 4 million gallons per day, this significantly impacts the sewer system’s capacity and the wastewater facility’s ability to treat the wastewater. Excessive sump pump discharges into the sanitary sewer could lead to sewage backing up into both you and your neighbor’s basements.

Treating clean sump pump water costs the same as treating wastewater, potentially increasing sewer rates.

One effective and simple method of water management to reduce the amount of water pumped by your sump pump is the installation of gutters and downspouts, provided their extensions are long enough to divert water away from the foundation.

Discharging sump pump water into the sewer after the variance period ends, or without a written variance during the temporary seasonal variance period, is illegal. It may result in criminal penalties associated with a Class 2 Misdemeanor, including up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine. Each day of noncompliance is a separate violation.

Your cooperation in diverting sump pumps out of the sanitary sewer system is appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact the Wastewater Facility at (605) 882-6244.

Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) recorded 1,076 passenger enplanements in February. This is a 23% increase compared to February 2025.

In February, 550 passengers traveled through Denver. That is a 5% increase from last year. Minneapolis–St. Paul recorded 526 enplanements, representing a 50% increase compared to Chicago in February 2025.

Residents with questions or needing assistance are encouraged to contact the airport by calling (605) 882-6209. To learn more or book now, visit www.watertownsd.us/airport.

As the spring thaw begins, Watertown’s roads become more vulnerable to damage caused by overweight vehicles. To protect our infrastructure, the City of Watertown will implement roadway weight restrictions starting Monday, March 2, 2026.

The maximum load limit is seven (7) tons per axle. If your vehicle exceeds this limit, you must contact the Street Superintendent at (605) 882-6207 or the City Engineer at (605) 882-6200 to pre-approve your haul route.

We appreciate your cooperation!

The City of Watertown Public Works Department will begin work on the lift station improvement project on Tuesday, March 03, 2026. The work is scheduled to be completed by Tuesday March 17, 2026, pending any unforeseen issues.  

This project will be located on North Lake Drive near Martin Street Northwest and SD Highway 20 near 150 North Lake Drive. There will be one lane traffic between Lombard Street and Martin Street Northwest along North Lake Drive near the lift station. North Lake Drive / SD Highway 20 near 150 North Lake Drive will have a reduced lane west bound and diverted traffic east bound. During construction there will be times when access to driveways is limited.  

As with any road construction project, motorists should exercise caution and observe all traffic control devices and flaggers in and around the construction areas. Residences will remain accessible most of the time. Motorists are asked not to park on the street in work areas. If you have any questions, please contact the City of Watertown Engineering Division of the Public Works Department at (605) 882-6202.

The way the City of Watertown delivers emergency information has changed. The City has officially launched CodeRED, a new emergency and time-sensitive notification system designed to reach Codington County residents quickly.

In the past, emergency alerts were delivered through local cable and radio, as well as shared on social media. As residents move to streaming services and different platforms, cable tv has its limitations — and social media alone is not a way to deliver timely information. 

In an emergency, such as a tornado, evacuation, gas leak, or other public safety threat — Watertown’s 911 Center can send alerts by phone call, text message, email, or TTY directly to residents — providing a direct, reliable way to share important information. 

This new program allows the City to send alerts based on location, whether that’s one neighborhood, a few blocks, or to the entire community, so the right people receive the right information at the right time. 

Voice calls from CodeRED will come from (206) 536-3695. Some devices may flag it as unknown or potential spam since it is not local – Save the number to recognize official City emergency alerts. 

The system includes phone numbers available through the Codington County 911 database, but it does not include every mobile number or preferred contact method. Creating a free CodeRED account increases the likelihood that important information reaches residents, however they prefer. It allows residents to add phone numbers and emails, register an address to receive alerts targeted specifically to that area, and subscribe to other kinds of community notifications.

While emergency alerts are the primary purpose of CodeRED, the system will also be used for other time-sensitive notifications that may require action. This includes categories for snow removal, City services, Utilities, geo-targeted severe weather alerts, and other timely categories of information. When signing up, residents choose which non-emergency alerts they want to receive.

Residents and businesses can create a free CodeRED account at www.watertownalerts.com or by texting Watertown to 36475. Creating an account is easy and it ensures important information reaches you. CodeRED improves the City’s ability to communicate timely information.

In observance of New Year’s Day next week, several City of Watertown facilities will be closed or have adjusted hours.Closed Thursday, Jan. 1:‣ City Hall‣ Watertown Regional Landfill‣ Parks & Recreation Fieldhouse‣ Watertown Regional Library‣ Bramble Park ZooPrairie Lakes Wellness Center‣ Dec. 31: Open 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.‣ Jan. 1: Closed