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This Sunday, World Water Week kicks off as global leaders call attention to the many threats facing the vital resource and in South Dakota, researchers are winding down an effort to gauge the concerns of state residents.

For the past two years, South Dakota State University Extension has gathered input through an online survey where state residents can describe water issues within their communities.

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Sushant Mehan, assistant professor of agriculture and biosystems engineering at the university, said the feedback they have received shows a common problem in the state's larger cities.

"In the city of Sioux Falls, they had the flooding issue last year. We had huge rainfall events this year, too," Mehan observed. "Flooding is a big concern and that leads to a concern of wastewater treatment as well."

He added there seems to be a lot of interest in PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, finding their way into water sources. Project leaders said they hope this effort leads to sustainable water management and assesses community preparedness for water-related disasters, including prolonged droughts. The last day to submit a comment is Aug. 31.

State and local governments face budget constraints to improve water infrastructure but Mehan stressed the project also reveals an awareness gap. He explained it appears people often do not know there are resources to turn to if they are dealing with a water-related problem.

"The basic questions like, where to get your water tested? How can I treat my well water after the flooding?" Mehan outlined.

South Dakota State University Extension said getting concrete data is crucial because climate change continues to affect regional water resources. Officials said water plays a vital role in agriculture, recreation and industrial development in South Dakota.