Workshop to address regionwide pollution issue

The future costs of wastewater treatment will be the subject of a special meeting of the Flathead Regional Wastewater Management Group in Kalispell on Sept. 29.

Operational and capital costs for wastewater treatment facilities continue to rise because of increasingly stringent state and federal regulations, but representatives of city governments say something needs to be done about nonpoint pollution sources like septics.

The city of Columbia Falls spent more than $8.7 million upgrading its wastewater facility, and the city of Kalispell expanded and upgraded its facility at a cost of $18.25 million. Most recently, Polson learned it may have to spend $19 million to upgrade its facility by December 2017.

Columbia Falls city councilor Mike Shepard says cities bear the costs of facility upgrades, with incremental improvements in water quality resulting.

“Rural communities on septic systems, often contributing the lion’s share of the pollution, are not under any obligation to reduce their pollution loads, leaving the cities holding the bag,” he said.

Everyone wants clean water, but ever-tightening standards often don’t lead to anticipated results, Lake County Conservation District supervisor Jim Simpson said.

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality regulate municipal wastewater facilities as point sources. Rural residents on individual septic systems are considered nonpoint pollution sources and don’t face the same level of standards.

But a report prepared by Carver Engineering indicates that the large number, location and age of individual septic systems across the Flathead Valley are likely contributing significant pollution loads to Flathead Lake.

Whitefish city manager Chuck Stearns says he’s hopeful 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.

The Flathead Regional Wastewater Management Group hopes to educate decision-makers regarding the issue.

“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, at Polson’s engineering department.

The upcoming free workshop, considered a first step, will take place at the Red Lion Inn, in Kalispell, on Monday, Sept. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. For additional information contact Caryn Miske at the Flathead Basin Commission at 240-3453.