Contractors Move Ahead On City Water System Project
 | Author:
Nancy Marks, MT43 News Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Nancy Marks
MT43 News Reporter
We live in a time when water is precious and threat of fire lurks all around us, due to climate change. Those facts were the impetus for the Townsend City Council to undertake water system updates currently in progress this year.
In November 2021, Mayor Mike Evans read about a fire destroying the town of Denton, Montana. Denton had enough water to fight the fire, but the utility company had to shut off the power, so Denton’s pumps stopped cold due to no backup power. Much of the town was destroyed – 25 homes, 18 secondary buildings and 6 commercial properties, including four grain elevators.
Since being for-warned is for-armed, Evans approached his council with the realities of living in Townsend: old grain elevators with grain in them and a fertilizer plant, all strategically located near the railroad tracks where a passing train might drop a spark to start a fire. In addition, the 1958 vintage water tower holds only 200,000 gallons of water – not near enough to cover the growing city in case of a major fire. Residents on streets south of Broadway complained of such low water pressure they could not water their lawns and take a shower at the same time.
By next year, the council was actively floating the idea of taking on a major project. But like remodeling an old house - you never know what you’ll find. The preliminary report from the Engineering firm Robert Peccia Associates (RPA) showed all kinds of need for updates in every level of Townsend’s water system. Not only did the city need more water in storage and higher pressures, the city needed to upgrade three wells, add valves and replace 1960s fire hydrants. Pumps in the wells were on their last legs and only one well has a backup power generator that is not reliable.
The road to organizing such a large municipal project is a long one, according to Mayor Vickie Rauser. Beginning in 2022 and after two public hearings with RPA and Townsend residents, the council began looking for grants and loans. Some American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money was available from the city’s coffers as well as unused county funds. Other funds came from a Montana Coal Endowment Program grant and a Renewable Resource Grant. The final step involved a $12,195,000 state revolving fund loan administered by the Department of Environmental Quality. Five million dollars of that loan would be forgiven when the city completes the program requirements. The city would still have to pay back a $7,195,000 bond, spread over 30 years at 2.5 per cent interest. The total estimated project of $14,419,940 would be covered.
To qualify for a state revolving fund loan, the city had to demonstrate it would have the funds to pay the principal and interest and maintain reserves, including for future repairs and replacement.
While public involvement was less than robust, it was not until August 2024 that residents realized that their monthly water bills would go from just under $21 monthly to $91. After hue and cry from members of the public, the Council did their best to soften the financial burden by spreading the increase in three increments over five months.
The Council finalized the Request for Proposals. Low bidders were CK May Excavating, Belgrade and COP Construction, Billings. Work began in January of this year.
Project work began on several fronts: COP crews started work on replacing the well house on Well #2, west of the railroad tracks just out of town as well as installing new generators. In August, the Council restricted water use through September. “We needed to mandate water restrictions in town because we are operating with only two wells, not three,” Rauser said.
At the same time, CK May crews began laying one 16-inch water line from city property near the fairgrounds to the town’s three wells.
City Public Works director Eric Crusch explained the out-of-town project’s inner workings this way: The 16-inch line into town works like a giant pressure tank, like the one you have in your house. It feeds water from the three wells to the new tower, then back to town by gravity flow. As the tank level gets too low, the wells kick on and fill the tower. For those curious about the new hydrants along the highway to the new tower site, they are for air pressure releases as well as for taking water samples and flushing the transmission main. Their location is based on ground elevation. “That’s what those hydrants outside of town are for. They are manually operated and regularly monitored. It is a huge safety precaution,” he explained.
Hopefully, the entire project will come online in June of 2026, according to Mayor Rauser.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 1 Caption: COPs Construction crews have poured 450 cubic yards of concrete for the massive footing. The footprint of the site is one acre, part of the 76 acres the City owns at the corner of Highways 12 and 284.
Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 2 Caption: Public Works Director Eric Crusch explained the City will have both the one-million-gallon water outside of town as well as the in-town 200,000-gallon water tank to be used as backup in case of emergency. When completed the new water tower will be fenced with lights and security cameras. Crusch and his crew will monitor water contents to ensure it safe for drinking. Access will be via the walk-through doors at the bottom of the tower.
Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
