by Judy Killen-originally published in the Yellowstone County News 9/16/16 print edition
HUNTLEY — It’s not a perfect system, but the Huntley-Yellowstone Water and Sewer District delivers water on demand to about 150 customers and has a clean record with state water inspectors.
The district obtains its drinking water from two wells, one of which is the primary source, while the second is a backup well for emergencies.
The wells pump water into a 110,000-gallon storage tank on a hill above Huntley’s southern edge. Water is supplied to Huntley homes and businesses and the coin-operated water depot through a gravity-flow system.
In the district’s annual water quality report, district personnel noted that the district’s new well contains hydrogen sulfide, which causes an odor but does not pose a health risk.
“It is not pleasant to use water with that odor,” the report notes. “Therefore, we will be using that well when we have emergency situations, and not for daily use.”
The Huntley system generates revenue through user fees, not from county funds or a mill levy, said County Finance Director Kevan Bryan. Because the district does not receive county funding, the county doesn’t have an assessed valuation of the district in its records, Bryan said. Other special districts, including fire districts, file an inventory of land within the district and other assets.
The Worden-Ballantine Yellowstone County Water and Sewer District also uses wells and pumps to deliver water to its customers.
The Lockwood Water and Sewer District obtains and treats water from the Yellowstone River.
T.J. Mueller, president of the board of directors, said the Huntley system formed in 1966 as a water and sewer system, although it provides only water. Everyone has a septic system, he said. If the time comes when the system can add sewer service, the district structure is already in place, he said, although infrastructure would have to be built, such as a sewage collection and treatment system.
Board members are Julie Frieling, Brian Ferderer, Dale Stoll and Bernie Greenfield. Frieling is also the bookkeeper for the district.
The Huntley Water District board of directors meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative, 150 Cooperative Way. Meetings are open to the public. The system serves about 140 customers in the Huntley area.
Customers pay a $25 base fee for water and then extra depending on how much they use.
Although the original system was built in 1966, Mueller said, some lines were replaced in 1998, and some lines were “looped,” which provides redundancy to keep water flowing and “keeps the sediment out.”
Sediment can be a problem, Mueller said. Sometimes if the Worden Volunteer Fire Department drains water from the system, it stirs up sediment.
Mueller said he believes the 110,000 gallons in storage would be enough for the fire department to use for a structure fire.
Divers from a company that specializes in tank cleaning inspect and clean the interior of the hillside tank every two years, Mueller said.
Ferderer said he recommends flushing sediment from hot water heaters every year and said water filters and reverse osmosis systems help ensure drinking water is clear.
Meuller said well water is known for carrying minerals and other substances. The water district submits water samples to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality once a month, he said.
Scott Patterson is a rule manager in the DEQ division that handles the Consumer Confidence Reports that all community water systems must file every year. He said the Huntley system had no outstanding violations and was issued a clean report. Any minerals or other substances detected in water supplied by the Huntley system were within allowable amounts, Patterson said.
Patterson conceded that users of most similar Montana community water systems complain from time to time about “bad taste, iron magnesium,” which are “not really a health concern,” but are still “not pleasant.”
“We’re most concerned with the health” factors, Patterson said. If a person files a complaint with DEQ about a specific water system, it’s investigated immediately, he said.
Sulfate and iron “affect taste and odor… but there’s not a direct health tie to them,” Patterson said. Iron can discolor the water and lead to people complaining about rust in their laundry, he said.
“Hot water heaters are definitely a culprit,” he said, which is why water testing is done from a cold water faucet.
The district’s coin-operated water depot continues to struggle because people put foreign coins, washers and other items in the coin slot, Mueller said.
Frieling said she found a lithium battery in the coin container.
The district does not have a website, because, Mueller said, it is too small. But customers with questions can call the district at 348-2517.
Mueller pointed out the phone number is in the telephone book and posted at the water depot on North Canal Road.
