DECATUR - City leaders tout the community's improved water quality, and efforts continue to improve water quantity.

The city of Decatur's water last year met or exceeded all state and federal drinking water requirements

"Nitrates in water, once a local concern, have not been an issue in Decatur for more than six years since the commissioning of our nitrate reduction facility, and the city has not received a drinking water violation since 2002, even though water quality requirements have become significantly more stringent since that time," a city news release stated.

Excessive nitrate levels in drinking water have been known to cause serious illnesses in children younger than 6 months. When levels were high in the past, the city provided bottled water to families with infants.

The city pumps 22 million gallons on average each day from Lake Decatur, but drought scares in recent years have reinforced the need to secure even more water.

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The city in coming months will continue to study whether to build a "sister lake" to Lake Decatur, just south of Interstate 72 and east of Neeley Avenue.

The proposed reservoir would hold about 6,100 acre-feet of water. It is expected to cost about $56.2 million and be constructed between 2008 and 2014.

Archer Daniels Midland Co. has an agreement with the city to pay half toward efforts to increase the lake's storage capacity, and city leaders hope that relationship will continue.

The city's acting city manager is well versed in the city's water needs. John Smith was recently appointed interim city manager after the resignation of former City Manager Steve Garman.

Smith, a 29-year city employee, most recently served as assistant city manager for public services, overseeing the city's engineering and infrastructure divisions, water production and water management.

Mayor Paul Osborne has said the city will be particularly well-served by Smith's expertise on water issues, as the council studies how best to secure additional water.

Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.