Sens. Tim Johnson and John Thune have introduced legislation that will extend congressional authorization of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water System.

Unless the bill is passed, authority to provide federal funds for the project in central and western South Dakota will expire at the end of 2008.

When completed, the regional water system will serve 51,000 South Dakotans in an area that's larger than Connecticut.

The project is 70 percent finished and involves the Oglala, Lower Brule, and Rosebud Sioux tribes, and West River-Lyman Jones Rural Water System.