Long Time Coming

By Monty L. Sealey

Many years ago most conversations with the Mayor(s) and City Council person included discussion about the poor water quality in Roundup. Several area organizations conducted surveys to identify the needs of the area based upon input from our citizens. The #1 need identified in almost all those surveys was water quality improvements.

Although it has been a long time coming we on the verge of hooking up to a new water source that will do just that. The Central Montana Regional Water Authority (CMRWA) and the City of Roundup are announcing the replacement of our current water supply with new, high quality water from the Central Montana Rural Water Project. That system has already been successfully supplying Harlowton with the new water for the best part of one year.

CMRWA hopes to finish the pipeline system from the wells-site to Roundup by the end of November or early December. During the development period of the system to Harlowton and Roundup, the City of Roundup has replaced nearly 95% of all old and original main water lines within the City Limits. The new water from the regional system will be delivered to Roundup’s storage tank and distributed to residents through the new main water lines.

The new water comes from a group of 4 wells drilled into the Madison Aquifer NW of Judith Gap. All 4 wells have been drilled and preliminary testing is complete. Development of the permanent pumping system for the two latest wells is under way. The water quality is much improved from that in town partners. The iron, manganese and sulfate levels that have plagued Roundup water for generations are now going to be reduced well below national standards. The new water is 1/3 or less hard than our existing water. Current water hardness in Roundup is 1,000 to 1,100 mg/L. The new water about 336 mg/L.

Users should expect the new water to start out at a good quality; then improve more over the next few months as the systems are flushed. The only water treatment will be chlorination. That will be used to disinfect the pipeline system; the chlorine residuals will be reduced to a low minimum. Though not “Perfect” this is very high-quality water.

Next up for the project is extension of the pipeline to Melstone and Sunset Colony. Construction will begin as soon as pipe and materials are received; hopefully before the end of October. Depending on weather, construction will continue throughout the winter. We hope to deliver water to Melstone by summer, 2025.

CMRWA has begun preliminary work of the project segment from the main line north of Lavina, south to Broadview. That segment should go to bid in 2025. Then it will be on to Shawmut/Deadman’s Basin Water District; then on to Ryegate. (2026-27?) The final phase will be to Hobson. The Town of Hobson is now working to put in a new water storage and distribution system in town so they can receive CMRWA water in the future. It is worth remembering that Hobson was one of the original founding members of CMRWA.

Most of the funding required for this total project is available. The current projected budget for the finished project is $135,000,000. Project costs are being paid 66% federal; 17.5% State (Coal Tax Fund); 17.5% Local, through water rates for debt service and operations/maintenance.

In addition to the participating towns and districts within the CMRWA planning area, rural water users within a reasonable proximately of the main 220 mile pipeline are also able to hook-up to the system. Those rural users can purchase water for their municipal type use and a limited amount for livestock. No farm irrigation is allowed to take water from the system. This water in rural areas is in big demand because good quality water is in limited supply throughout the area.

The regional water project is owned by the Central Montana Regional Water Authority (CMRWA), P.O. Box 660 Roundup, MT 59072. CMRWA is a unit of government established under special Montana Statute. CMRWA is governed by a Board of Directors, currently including: James Kalitowski, Chairman, Harlowton; David Picchioni, V. Chairman, Roundup; Dave Liggett, Sec/Treasurer, Roundup; Paul Otten, Mayor, Harlowton; Jeff Sell, Alt. Member, Harlowton; Allen Davis, Mayor, Ryegate; Connie Roussan, Member, Melstone; Loren Drivdahl, Mayor, Hobson, Roger Swartz, Mayor, Broadview, Ken Kowalczyk, Mayor, Judith Gap (Non-participating member); Diane Buroff, Mayor, Lavina; Lon Sibley, Roundup (Proxy Rep).

Project Engineering: Great West Engineering, Helena; Bob Church, P.E.; Project Administration: Project and Management Services, Roundup, Monty L. Sealey, Project Administrator.

Project Website: centralmontanawater.com.

Project e-mail: [email protected].