Wastewater workshop looks at looming costs

The Flathead Regional Wastewater Management Group will host a workshop Sept. 29 that looks at the future costs of regional wastewater management.

The event will focus on the group’s septic system study, upcoming wastewater discharge permit requirements and options to meet permit requirements. The event is from 6-9 p.m. at the Red Lion Inn in Kalispell and is open to the public.

The management group includes representatives from cities and water and sewer districts in Flathead and Lake county. The workshop is intended to educate folks about the issue of wastewater management.

“Our goal is to identify unique solutions to bring some fiscal relief to city residents, while at the same time improving water quality,” said Shari Johnson, city of Polson engineering.

In the Flathead Basin, cities have been upgrading facilities to improve water quality. Kalispell expanded its facility at a cost of $18.25 million, Columbia Falls spent $8.7 million in upgrades and the city of Polson recently learned it would need to spent $19 million to upgrade its facilities.

Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns said the hope is that more efficient and effective solutions to wastewater management can be found.

“The city of Whitefish is currently studying nutrient trading options, and use of such a strategy basin-wide could significantly reduce costs for the cities,” he said.

Municipal wastewater facilities operate under permits from the state Department of Environmental Quality. The operational and capital costs for wastewater treatment facilities continue to rise due to water pollution regulations requiring such facilities to improve the quality of water coming out of their plants, according to the group.

Jim Simpson, the Lake County Conservation District Supervisor and member of the wastewater management group, said that while everyone wants clean water, the regulations requiring ever tightening standards often do not have the anticipated results.

“The dollars spent on plant improvements do not necessarily equate to significant reductions in pollution levels,” he said.

Septic systems are under different regulations than municipal systems. The wastewater group commissioned a study that indicated that a number of aging septic systems are likely contributing to pollution loads to Flathead Lake due to surface-groundwater interactions.

The workshop includes speakers from the wastewater management group, cities and counties, Flathead Basin Commission, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Panel discussion members includes John Wilson, Whitefish’s public works director; state Rep. Ed Lieser of Whitefish; and EPA and county representatives.

For additional information contact Caryn Miske at the Flathead Basin Commission at 240-3453.