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As the Pathfinder has been documenting over the years, the Sewer District has been testing and testing and testing. The question the sewer board has been discussing heavily is the validity of the results of this testing. The decision is that although there is a lot of test results there really isn't much depth. There is a lot of data for a very few points. This has led to a substantial discussion concerning the true point of the lake contamination. Is it downtown and the business district? Is...
The Seeley Lake Sewer district has continued testing since 1994 within the district. This does not include the airport area which was part of the original testing as this area is outside of the district. Looking at a summary of the wells from 1994-2004, the results are as follows. Well #1 located at Lindey's Prime Steak House shows very elevated nitrate levels. Well #2 located at the Seeley Lake Baptist Church nitrate levels were generally quite high with huge seasonal swings. As low as 0.08 to...
In both 1993 and 1995, the Department of Geology at the University of Montana did a study called "Cumulative Effects of Domestic Sewage Disposal on Groundwater of Missoula County: An analysis of Carrying Capacity" for the Missoula County Commissioners. The second site that was tested was within the Seeley Lake Water District, directly to the east of Highway 83. One complication they found was, although it was quite densely populated, there weren't many wells since it is in the water district....
In both 1993 and 1995, the Department of Geology at the University of Montana did a study called "Cumulative Effects of Domestic Sewage Disposal on Groundwater of Missoula County: An analysis of Carrying Capacity" for the Missoula County Commissioners. There were testing sites throughout the county, but the ones we are interested in are those in Seeley Lake. They monitored the area by the airport, downtown and Camp Paxson. AIRPORT: The earth materials are glacially derived unsorted sand and...
The Importance of Proper Liquid Waste Disposal Why do we care about correct liquid wastewater effluent disposal? Here are a few reasons: • Environmental protection: Improper wastewater effluent disposal can hurt the surrounding environment. It can affect the balance of aquatic ecosystems and kill marine organisms. Or it can seep into the soil, kill plants, destroy natural habitats and cause biodiversity loss. • Human health protection: Inadequate wastewater effluent disposal can also make peo...
Because it isn't good for our living environment. When a septic system fails, it causes untreated sewage to be released and transported to where it shouldn't be. This may cause sewage to come to the surface of the ground around the tank or the drainfield or to back up in pipes in the building. The sewage could also find its way into groundwater, surface water or marine water without us ever seeing it. The sewage carries pathogens and other dangerous contaminants. Exposure to these pathogens and...
1) Have your septic tank system inspected and pumped regularly Sludge in large quantities can only be eliminated by a professional pumper. You should have a pumper inspect your septic system to determine if the accumulation of solid waste is too high and needs to be removed. It is recommend the average septic system should be inspected every 3-5 years. Five key factors that influence the frequency with which you'll need to have your septic system pumped: household size, total wastewater...
HOW DOES YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM WORK? The septic tank holds the wastewater from homes or businesses until solid debris settles at the bottom of the tank (the sludge layer) and lighter waste, such as oil, rises to the top (the scum layer). Between the two layers lies the effluent liquid, which flows into an outlet pipe and is gradually dissipated through a drain field. Bacteria in the septic tank naturally break down organic waste matter and slows the accumulation of the sludge layer. WHAT IF THERE...
During its reorganization period, the Sewer Board has developed an "Action Plan." The purpose was to create a working document that would guide the actions of the board over the foreseeable future. This is a living plan that will be updated as time goes on but will form a foundation for moving forward. The areas of focus, with sub-points, are: 1. Improve communication throughout the District. Securing member contact information to use for surveys, digital newsletters, share information,...
As you know, the Seeley Lake Sewer District Board sent a memo to voters and property owners in the Sewer District about the upcoming Bond Election. The Board would like to take this opportunity to clarify the facts. Supplemental materials can be found at www.seeleysewer.org. Our purpose is “to maintain and provide a healthful environment for present and future generations and to supervise wastewater treatment within the District.” The data shows the nitrate levels in groundwater within the District are trending upward. This concerns MT DEQ and...
SEELEY LAKE - This article is to address the common questions the Seeley Lake Sewer District Board has heard regarding the recent mailing. 1. Why did I receive this letter requesting I sign a temporary right of entry for construction? The project is almost ready to go to bid and the Board wanted to get construction easements in place before the contract is awarded. They will bid to connect all existing properties that generate wastewater but will not be able to do the work on personal property without notarized permission. 2. I have more than...
