Call to Action!! We need YOUR help to preserve Flathead Valley’s water quality. Please help us in opposing this groundwater discharge permit. MT DEQ has issued a Preliminary Determination to grant this permit # MTX000307. UPDATE: DEQ is extending the public comment period until February 10, 2025, providing the public an additional 30-days to comment on the draft MGWPCS (groundwater discharge) permit. To view the draft permit, Fact Sheet, draft Environmental Assessment, and to learn how to submit a comment visit: https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/PN-MT-24-14-MTX000307 . Give public comment on why we as a community disagree with this determination and inform decision makers on how this could affect our water quality. Once degraded water quality is very difficult or impossible to remediate.
Lakeside County Water and Sewer District is applying for a groundwater discharge permit through DEQ. There have already been several notices of deficiency and modifications made to address multiple issues with the proposed system which consists of Rapid Infiltration Basins. We have concerns with how this system will negatively impact Flathead Lake, the area’s groundwater, and the many surface waters in Lower Valley. This area has very high groundwater that is interconnected with the many surface waters. After much research we feel that this is the not the best place for this proposed wastewater system. Read on to learn more about what exactly is being proposed.
DEQ is accepting public comments on the draft MGWPCS permit and the draft EA from Dec. 9, 2024, to Jan. 10, 2025. To view the draft permit, Fact Sheet, draft EA, and to learn how to submit a comment visit: https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/PN-MT-24-14-MTX000307
In a 2/16/2024 letter to Chris Boe, with Montana DEQ, regarding LCWSD’s pending application for a groundwater discharge permit from DEQ, Water Environmental Technologies (WET) engineer, Brad Bennett, PG Senior Hydrogeologist with WET stated:
“Please note that the fate and transport evaluation has resulted in modification to the proposed project, including the dimensions and location of RI basin areas and volume of water proposed for discharge, which has been reduced from 340,000 GPD to 200,000 GPD. Please let me know if you would like us to update the application submitted via the FACTS website.”
Something about this area forced LCWSD’s engineer to lower the proposed volume of discharge by 140,000 GPD (gallons per day). When Lakeside has stated they eventually want to dispose of 900,000 GPD. How will this site work for the future if it barely works for right now??
The site is close to critical protected lands, bird migration paths, abundant wildlife, livestock, agriculture farmland, historical homesteads, Wiley Slough and waterways to Flathead Lake.
Lakeside County Water and Sewer District is applying for a ground water discharge permit to be able to discharge wastewater into very shallow groundwater, with connectivity to surface waters, one mile north of Flathead Lake.
