District Overview Updated November 2023

FLATHEAD COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 – EVERGREEN

www.evergreenwaterdistrict.com

130 Nicholson Drive

Kalispell, MT 59901

406-257-6861

Office Hours: M-F 8:00 – 4:00

info@evergreenwaterdistrict.com

 

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

 

DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES

Safe, Reliable, Cost-Effective Since 1965 DISTRICT OVERVIEW – NOVEMBER 2023

DISTRICT IS A STAND-ALONE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FORMED UNDER MT LAW

GOVERNED BY A 7-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 5 ELECTED, 2 APPOINTED AND ADVISORY

 

  • B.J. LUPTON, PRESIDENT (ELECTED)
  • DENNIS FALCON, VICE PRESIDENT (ELECTED)
  • BOB BALDING (ELECTED AND IN CHARGE OF FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT)
  • BUTCH CLARK (ADVISORY-APPOINTED BY THE CITY OF KALISPELL)
  • JACK FALLON, (ELECTED)
  • BILL MATTHEWS (ELECTED)
  • J. WENDT (ADVISORY-APPOINTED BY FLATHEAD COUNTY)
  • CINDY MURRAY, SECRETARY TO THE BOARD AND GENERAL MANAGER

 

MONTHLY MEETINGS THE 3RD WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 AM

ANNUAL PUBLIC FINANCIAL AUDITS, OPEN RECORDS, OPEN MEETINGS

SERVICE AREA IS APPROX 8 SQUARE MILES. POPULATION SERVED IS APPROXIMATELY 8500 AND GROWING

LARGEST COMBINED WATER & SEWER DISTRICT IN THE STATE

 

CUSTOMERS CAN SIGN UP FOR UPDATES BY EMAIL OR TEXT ON THE DISTRICT’S WEBSITE

 

 

WATER SYSTEM:

3680 WATER CUSTOMERS: 3520 DOMESTIC, 160 IRRIGATION

WATER DEMAND AVERAGES 4.5M GPD IN SUMMER AND 1,380,000 GPD IN WINTER

DISTRICT HAS 11 WELLS. 2 MORE WELLS ARE PROJECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL IN 2025. WE HAVE

2.6 MILLION GALLONS OF STORAGE IN TWO TANKS UP ON THE BLUFF. THE OLDER OF THE TWO TANKS, A STEEL TANK CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1960S WAS FULLY RENOVATED IN 2022 TO REMOVE LEAD PAINT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE NEWER TANK, CONSTRUCTED IN 2011, IS MADE OF CONCRETE.

DISTRICT DOES NOT CHLORINATE OR INJECT FLUORIDE, PH 7.8, 11 GRAINS OF HARDNESS FREE NONPOTABLE WATER AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE DURING SUMMER SEASON

WATER SYSTEM IS OLDEST INFRASTRUCTURE DATING BACK TO 1965

SEWER SYSTEM:

2254 SEWER CUSTOMERS: 1519 HAVE SEPTIC TANKS WITH EFFLUENT PUMPED IN 6-YR CYCLE

DISTRICT CUSTOMERS AVERAGE 425,000 GALLONS PER DAY OF WASTEWATER. ALL WASTEWATER IS TREATED BY THE CITY OF KALISPELL. CONTRACT EXPIRES 2035. SERVICE AREA EXPANSIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CITY APPROVAL. VOLUME IS CAPPED AT 805,000 GPD MEASURED ON A 75-DAY ROLLING AVERAGE. CITY HAS INDICATED IT WILL NOT ALLOW ANY EXPANSIONS OR PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH IN THE EVERGREEN COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

350,000 GALLONS AVERAGE PER YEAR OF “SEPTAGE” (PRIMARILY PUMPING OF SEPTIC TANKS IN THE DISTRICT) DISPOSED OF BY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE BEING EXPLORED

OPERATIONS PROFILE:

STAFF: 11 FULL-TIME (5 FIELD), INCLUDING A LICENSED DISTRICT ENGINEER

5 CERTIFIED WATER OPERATORS; TWO ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES ARE IN A DEQ-APPROVED APPRENTICE PROGRAM TO OBTAIN WATER OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS

STAFF HAS OVER 200 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN WATER AND WASTEWATER OVER 100 VENDORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE IN EVERGREEN

APPROXIMATELY 30M ASSETS, ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET 2M, NO DEBT

 

  • YEAR CAPITAL PLAN/ENGINEERING STUDIES ONGOING

ARPA CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDED BY STATE AND COUNTY ARPA FUNDS AND ONGOING:

Projects must be concluded by 12-31-25. Projects total over 11 million with ARPA grants and District funds that are required for matching requirements.

 

 

 

Project

Total Project Cost

District Match

o Tank Project

$1,837,118.03

$459,279.50

o Well Project

$2,008,460.00

$502,115.00

o SCADA Project

$1,275,242.00

$904,245.76

o Lift Station 19

$4,118,717.00

$2,118,717.00

o Lift Station 2&15

$842,604.00

$421,302.00

o I&I Project

$984,888.00

$492,444.00

 

 

 

 

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE:

  • SECURITY & SAFETY (PEOPLE, ENVIRONMENT, FACILITIES, CYBER)
  • RATES AND LOW-INCOME CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
  • GROUNDWATER PROTECTION AND WATER CONSERVATION
  • PLANNING FOR GROWTH
  • AGING INFRASTRUCTURE-COST MANAGEMENT OF REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS
  • WORK FORCE TRANSITION
  • OBTAINING FED/STATE INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS AND LOANS
  • UPDATED POLICIES/SPECIFICATIONS
  • COMPLIANCE WITH LAW AND REGULATION
  • MAINTAINING KEY SERVICE PROVIDERS
  • KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY
  • COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

*water use

*no “flushable” wipes

*business compliance with Pretreatment Requirements (grease traps and oil/sand interceptors)

*participation in the DEQ/EPA Lead and Copper Survey of District water lines and customer-owned piping

*customer and stake holder involvement in planning processes

EWS