St. Ignatius water project, street-paving begins
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ST. IGNATIUS — At the Sept. 4 St. Ignatius City Council meeting, officials said the first of two water improvement projects could begin by Sept. 17.
The origins of these projects date back several years. The project currently being pursued involves an update to the town’s well system.
Per the current water system, a disinfecting chlorine solution is pre-mixed and added to the town’s water supply in the main line at the well’s source. Chlorine levels are tested daily to ensure safe drinking water is sent into town.
The upgrade will involve installing 260 feet of 24-inch contact time pipe and several pumping houses along the system. This new pipe will mix chlorine and well water automatically as water travels from the well source to the main line system.
The second project involves building a new well on the north side of town and replacing three sections of water line. This project is on hold until the first can be completed. Once installed, the third well should increase the town’s fire protection capacity and water volume significantly.
Public works director Scott Morton said the town’s existing wells operate at capacity to keep up with demand on a daily basis.
“When it does start, we are going to require people to not water their lawns or irrigate their fields for the duration of construction,” he said.
Morton estimates the project will be complete within two weeks of groundbreaking.
“This project right now is just a requirement of the Department of Environmental Quality,” Morton said. “It’s not something we really want to do. The DEQ requires it.”
In addition, the council passed a resolution stating that if residents are behind on paying their water bill by two or more months, the city will be required to terminate water services to said residence. This resolution was a requirement put forth by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation as a prerequisite to begin the water project.
“If someone doesn’t pay their fair share, the neighbors are going to get their rates raised in order to keep operating funds at a sustainable level,” Morton said. “That’s the reasoning behind it.”
Apart from the water improvement projects, St. Ignatius is scheduled to begin paving and improving city roads Sept. 11, which could be completed in a day.
More than 10 years ago, the city began paving a few city blocks per year in an effort to improve road quality and reduce the number of potholes. This year’s roads include Flathead Street between Main Street and Second Avenue, and the intersection of Blaine Street and Main Street.
“It’s a standard maintenance thing, not an emergency,” Morton said.
“It’s part of a continuous, long-term plan.”
