The city began a water conservation effort, and ended up purchasing additional water from the Traill County Rural Water Users Association. The Hillsboro aquifer is located 10 miles east of town and the Galesburg aquifer is 6 miles west of town. The rural water user's group gets its water from the Galesburg aquifer, and spends about $2,000 per year for treatment. A rural water group spokesman said the new treatment plant, which removes excess iron and manganese from the water, is working below capacity and could be used to treat Mayville water. The rural water group's pumping station is about 100 feet higher than Mayville, so pumping costs would be minimal.