Opinion
Op-ed: The future of wastewater
Published
8 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Jeff Saad EBS Contributor
I have a solution for the ongoing storage needs for treated wastewater in Big Sky. The recent spill of wastewater into the Gallatin watershed is unfortunate, and an accident. Accidents happen.
It was a genius idea to pipe treated wastewater to irrigate golf courses, which minimizes the need to release effluent into the Gallatin River.
The issue that most concerns the Big Sky Water and Sewer District is the total volume of treated wastewater produced. We are nearing capacity and looking at massive growth ahead. The golf courses simply cannot use enough of it, so it will be dumped into the Gallatin River.
We have two choices ahead: We can build more storage facilities at huge taxpayer costs, or we can decrease the total amount of treated wastewater produced. Short of a moratorium on all growth and development, we will be dumping into the Gallatin River nonstop. It will be business as usual.
Solution
My premise is simple: it shouldn’t be cost prohibitive, provides all necessary water needs to those who need it, and reduces the amount of future treated wastewater by 70 percent.
Sewage and garbage have stomach-upsetting stigmas. However, all sewage is not the same. This plan only includes new development on the centralized water-sewer system including residences, hotels, etc., and excludes all existing structures both in the centralized system and those using well and septic systems.
Wastewater can be separated into two classes:
Blackwater – anything you use toilet paper for, and kitchen sink disposals
– human waste
– food
Greywater – everything else (shower/bath, laundry, bathroom sinks, etc.)
– hair, skin, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, cleaning products
The plan is not to use the greywater as drinking water (although you could). The plan includes sending only blackwater (30 percent) for wastewater treatment, which requires little additional storage capacity and will eventually be used for golf course irrigation. With simple, large-particle/small-particle filtration, greywater could be kept on-site for several uses:
Toilet flush water
Greenhouse (food, plants and flowers love greywater)
Irrigate landscaping (summer)
Snowmaking (winter)
With minimal filtration, greywater is relatively clean, and excess can be discarded on premise as needed and welcomed back to the ground for final filtration in the earth.
Benefits
1. Reduce stress on groundwater and deep-ground aquifers
2. Increase aquifer supply
3. Reduce volume of water needing chemical treatment
4. Relieve as much as 70 percent stress on wastewater storage
5. Cessate the need for further dumping of treated wastewater
6. Less “new” water used
The key is to use the least amount of potable water by reusing semi-clean greywater for purposes that will tolerate it.
This proposal is simply an exercise in plumbing rerouting. We can set the standard in resort water management.
For the last three years, Jeff Saad has lived in an energy efficient Big Sky home that uses the water management system described above. This is how Saad’s home is plumbed and manages its water on a daily basis, and he says this method can be expanded to include multiple homes on a larger scale.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 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
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
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716