Lakeside County Water & Sewer District
Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Project
The original Lakeside County Water & Sewer District (LCWSD) system was constructed in the 1980s to reduce public health hazards and nutrient loading into Flathead Lake. After nearly 40 years of service, the system is nearing the end of its useful life and has very little capacity to accept additional wastewater from ongoing growth and development in the area. There is a need to upgrade and expand wastewater treatment capacity to responsibly serve the regional community while continuing to protect Flathead Lake and the surrounding natural environment.
In late 2021, LCWSD began planning wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) improvements that would incorporate modern treatment methods as part of their commitment to protect the surrounding environment and water quality. During the planning phase of this project, LCWSD and Flathead County discussed the potential to combine treatment efforts. Within Flathead County, onsite wastewater treatment systems (commonly called septic systems) serve the wastewater needs of rural residences and businesses located outside the limits of municipal wastewater systems. To ensure proper function and to protect human health and the natural environment, septic tanks must be pumped regularly. Pumped materials (called septage) must be properly treated and disposed, and limited options are currently available within Flathead County.
LCWSD’s initial discussions with the County involved constructing a stand-alone treatment system to treat septage from the area, along with a full composting facility. Under this original plan, the water from the processes would have been pumped to the LCWSD for additional treatment. During the course of planning, Flathead County and LCWSD determined that a more effective construction and management model would be to build a single facility that could treat septage generated within the County while simultaneously increasing municipal wastewater treatment capacity for the LCWSD. The purpose of the change is to provide a more economical solution and minimize disturbance to the land and environment. The combined project will serve current residents and businesses and accommodate anticipated future residential and commercial growth expected in the coming years within Flathead County and the LCWSD boundaries by efficiently and responsibly treating wastewater in a way that is safe for the environment.
On March 19, 2024, the Flathead County Commissioners unanimously voted to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with LCWSD to improve and expand wastewater treatment for the County. With the signed agreement in place, LCWSD is developing a Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Project consisting of two phases:
- The first phase includes construction of a new screening and grit removal facility, which will be constructed at the LCWSD’s existing wastewater treatment facility site to screen raw septage and remove inorganic materials such as plastics and grit. Additionally, a new Septage Receiving and Treatment Facility (SRTF) will include a septage unloading site where septage pumped from septic tanks within Flathead County can be disposed. The septage facility will not be operational until Phase II is completed.
- A second phase will include construction of a specialized wastewater treatment facility that will treat LCWSD’s normal wastewater flows along with septage. This facility will provide higher levels of treatment than what is provided today by the current treatment facility in order to handle the new septage volume and concentration. Relatively, the septage will be a small proportion of wastewater received by LCWSD daily.
The total project (both phases) is estimated to cost $26-$30 million to design and construct.
Project Location
The new Septage Receiving and Treatment Facility (SRTF) will be located west of the existing LCWSD wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) on property owned by the District.
Project History
The original LCWSD facility was constructed using USEPA funding in 1987 to install a wastewater collection and treatment system as a means to protect Flathead Lake. Providing this service remains the goal of the District today. The District intends to continue its environmental stewardship by effectively collecting and treating wastewater within the District’s service area.
- Since 1988, LCWSD has been operating to reduce public health hazards and nutrient loading into Flathead Lake.
- In 2021, LCWSD began planning to upgrade its WWTF to process municipal wastewater using modern treatment methods to protect the surrounding environment and water quality.
- In 2022 and 2023, LCWSD and Flathead County discussed potential opportunities to combine wastewater treatment efforts.
- On September 14, 2023, Flathead County entered into an Interlocal Agreement with LCWSD, under which the County planned to build, own, and operate a stand-alone facility to treat septage down to residential strength before delivering it to LCWSD for further treatment.
- On September 15, 2023, Flathead County closed on the purchase of property at 305 Wiley Dike Road in Kalispell where the new County WWTP was intended to be located.
- Since the initial interlocal agreement, the County and LCWSD determined that a more effective construction and management model would be to build a single facility that could treat septage and portable bathroom waste while simultaneously increasing wastewater treatment capacity for the LCWSD.
- On March 19, 2024, the Flathead County Commissioners unanimously voted to enter into a new Interlocal Agreement with LCWSD to improve and expand wastewater treatment for the County.
- On March 28, 2024, the Flathead County Commissioners unanimously voted to sell the property located at 305 Wiley Dike Road in Kalispell to LCWSD.
Project Permitting
LCWSD has applied for a groundwater discharge permit from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This process is similar to a surface water discharge permit, which is typical for many cities and towns. The difference is that treated water flows into the ground as opposed to a river or stream. The discharged water will flow into the ground through open ponds. Many other communities have groundwater discharge permits and use this as a safe method for disposing of treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
An onsite wastewater treatment system is typically used to capture wastewater discharged from homes in rural areas where there is no access to a municipal sewer system. These systems generally include a septic tank, which removes solids and provides primary treatment of wastewater, and a drainfield, which is used to discharge the treated water from the septic tank to groundwater.
The Montana Department of Environment Quality (DEQ) is responsible for developing all rules and regulations for onsite wastewater treatment systems including permitting, design, and installation.
Septage is a mix of solids, wastewater, and oils/fats that is pumped from a septic tank, wastewater holding tank, porta-potties, and other onsite wastewater systems. Septage can include nitrogen and phosphorus at much higher concentrations than normal municipal waste.
One byproduct of the wastewater treatment process is biosolids. The liquids and solids in wastewater are separated during treatment. After that, the solids undergo physical and chemical processing to create biosolids, a semisolid byproduct that is rich in nutrients.
Septage and biosolids pumped from onsite wastewater treatment systems in Flathead County are currently disposed of through land application, which includes injecting or spraying untreated septage onto vacant or agricultural lands.
Treated water from the current LCWSD facility is used as irrigation water for hay crop. Water from the new proposed facility would be treated to a much higher level than what is being done today. Treated water from the LCWSD proposed facility would either be discharged through to the existing LCWSD ponds or be land applied as irrigation water.
Flathead County initially bought the site at 305 Wiley Dike Road with the intention of developing and running a septage treatment plant there. On March 28, 2024, Flathead County Commissioners signed a Resolution of Intent to sell the property to LCWSD. LCWSD will take possession of the property and determine future usage to best serve its customers.
The project is estimated to cost approximately $26 million to design and construct.
Flathead County has received grant funding from multiple sources, including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). Additional grant funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Western Montana Conservation Commission (WMCC) is pending. LCWSD has also received funding that will be used for the project.
LCWSD is leading development of the WWTF project. Flathead County will pay LCWSD to design, construct, operate, and maintain the new SRTF, which is an addition to the project the District was previously planning. Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA) is the engineering firm contracted to provide design services to LCWSD.
LCWSD is required to provide quarterly progress reports to Flathead County outlining the expenditure of funds.
Additionally, LCWSD is required to obtain all necessary project permits, including a Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) discharge permit. No septage will be received at the LCWSD facility until the project design is approved by DEQ and construction of the Phase I and Phase II facilities has been completed. If LCWSD fails to obtain necessary permits, Flathead County may provide written notice of default and seek reimbursement of project funds.
To ensure proper function, onsite wastewater treatment systems must be pumped regularly, and pumped materials must be properly treated and disposed. If these steps are not taken, waste products held in these onsite systems can overflow or seep into groundwater and eventually reach surface waters including Flathead Lake. The SRTF and WWTP facility upgrade project will ensure that septage pumped from onsite wastewater treatment systems and collected through sewer mains is properly collected, treated, and disposed to avoid contamination of the lake as well as surrounding surface and groundwater sources.
In addition to providing safeguards for human health and the natural environment, the project will enable LCWSD to maintain a stable rate structure for its customers. Grant funding from federal and state programs will enable the design and construction of facility upgrades while keeping fees affordable for ratepayers.
Contacts
Rodney Olson
General Manager
(406) 844-3881
rodneyolson@lcwsd.net
Brad Koenig, PE
Project Manager
(406) 447-5044
bkoenig@rpa-hln.com
Sarah Nicolai, PE, PTP
Public Involvement
(406) 447-5038
snicolai@rpa-hln.com
Anticipated Project Timeline
Interlocal Agreement signed between Flathead County and LCWSD, with Flathead County providing funding for LCWSD to build, own, operate, and maintain new SRTF.
Project planning, design, permitting, and environmental review process to begin for the SRTF and WWTP facility upgrades.
Phase I design submitted to DEQ for review and approval.
Construction of Phase I SRTF and WWTP facility upgrades to begin.
Phase II anticipated construction completion.
Operation of new facility to begin.
Documents
Project Events
Please join us from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Fire Hall (125 Bills Rd, Lakeside, MT) to learn more about this project.
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