Arts & Entertainment
Water Wisdom: Understanding wastewater treatment across Big Sky
Published
5 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Kristin Gardner and Karen Filipovich EBS CONTRIBUTORS
Turn on the shower, order a meal or flush the toilet. All of these activities involve water going down the drain. In Big Sky, what happens next and the resulting quality of treated water varies significantly depending on the type of wastewater treatment system.
Wastewater treatment infrastructure varies in the Big Sky area from single septic systems to large, centralized systems. Wastewater treatment removes solids, pathogens and nutrients. Doing so protects human health and safeguards water supply and water quality.
Septic systems are designed for small, individual sites in areas with low density development. They are commonly found in the more remote areas of Big Sky, like the Gallatin Canyon or Beaver Creek. With this system, a tank settles out solids and bacteria digest nutrients and pathogens and the resulting effluent is then usually released into a drainfield.
There are two major types of septic systems: Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 systems are more common and easier to operate, but do not remove as many nutrients as other methods. Typically, this system treats effluent to a point where total nitrogen concentration is about 50 milligrams per liter. Level 2 systems treat to a higher level, and are required to remove total nitrogen to a concentration of less than 24 milligrams per liter.
Level 2 systems are significantly more expensive than Level 1 systems and are more difficult to operate. However, these treatment levels are only achieved if a system is properly maintained. The individual landowner has complete responsibility of the system including any maintenance and testing.
Public wastewater treatment systems vary greatly in size and treatment methods around Big Sky, ranging from systems servicing a single business, to large groups of residential and commercial development. In Big Sky, these systems range from large onsite systems that are similar to individual septic tanks but serve multiple households or businesses, to treatment lagoons and multistep technologies. Treatment levels vary greatly based on technology, but all public systems require routine monitoring and reporting to the state.
The largest public wastewater treatment plant in the area is the Big Sky Water and Sewer District, which services the Meadow and Town Center areas, the Big Sky Resort base area, and parts of Spanish Peaks. The district’s facility is a tertiary treatment plant and achieves treatment levels similar to most of the smaller community treatment systems in Montana. The treated effluent’s total nitrogen ranges from 4 to 35 milligrams per liter depending on the time of year. The district is in the process of designing an upgrade and expansion that would achieve nitrogen concentrations of less than 5 milligrams per liter, similar to the Bozeman wastewater treatment plant and compliant with Montana’s Class A-1 reuse standards, the highest quality described by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
Improving wastewater treatment levels is very important as Big Sky grows because more effluent will be generated as more people move in and visit the area. Higher treatment levels also allow for more diverse reuse options for the treated water, which could be greatly beneficial to watershed health.
Kristin Gardner is executive director of the Gallatin River Task Force. Karen Filipovich is a facilitator and consultant in the Bozeman area.
—
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Wastewater treatment in the Gallatin Canyon:
Gallatin Canyon Project Kickoff Meeting
Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Buck’s T-4
Canyon residents and business owners are invited to learn more aboutan engineering study that will provide information about wastewater treatment upgrade options in the Gallatin Canyon. This study is administered by the Gallatin River Task Force and funded through the Big Sky Resort Tax. Contact Karen Filipovich at karen.filipovich@gmail.com or kristin@gallatinrivertaskforce.org for more information.
Big Sky Water and Sewer District wastewater reclamation upgrades:
Big Sky Water and Sewer District – bigskywatersewer.com
Septic permitting and maintenance:
Gallatin Health Department – healthygallatin.org/environmental-health/water-quality/wastewater-septic-treatment
Madison Health Department – madisoncountymt.gov/247/Septic-System-Information
Gallatin Local Water Quality District – glwqd.org/septic-wastewater-treatment-systems
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Thursday) 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm