Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) A helicopter with a large drone-like device dangling underneath will next month make a first-of-its-kind aerial survey of future water sources for growing Sioux Falls.
City Water Engineer Jeff Dunn says the low-flying helicopter with the "bird" underneath will cruise along the Big Sioux River from Sioux Falls Regional Airport to Baltic. Dunn says Sioux Falls has all the water it needs right now, but this is an environmentally friendly way of searching for future supplies. Usually holes have to be drilled in the aquifer, but this cutting edge technology maps water sources from the air.
The City is mailing out thousands of flyers to property owners along the helicopter route. Dunn says the "bird" is nearly as long as the helicopter so wont be easy to miss. Dunn says the survey will cost the city about $192,000.