SEELEY LAKE - The community of Seeley Lake has a water quality problem. The problem is that the local groundwater has elevated levels of nitrate. The main source of the nitrate is septic systems located in Seeley Lake. Septic systems do a great job removing bacteria and viruses from wastewater but do not remove much nitrate from wastewater. As a result, septic systems contribute nitrate to groundwater. Because of the high density of septic systems located in the town of Seeley Lake, nitrate levels are high.
Elevated nitrate levels in ground and surface water threaten the health of people and the environment. When consumed by infants or women who are breastfeeding, nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby” disease. There is also research suggesting that high nitrate levels in drinking water can play a role in spontaneous miscarriages, birth defects, thyroid disorders and some cancers in adults.
Elevated nitrates can also lead to the degradation of rivers, lakes and streams. High nitrate levels can lead to accelerated algal growth, which raise water temps, decrease oxygen levels and can cause fish to die as a result. It can turn a clean, cold lake into a warm, algae-infested swamp.
Because of these risks to human and environmental health, the EPA and the State of Montana have enacted laws that define maximum allowable concentrations of nitrate in state waters. To protect public health and the environment, the Missoula City-County Health Department has designated a portion of the Seeley Lake area a Special Management Area (SMA).
Within the SMA, the Health Department cannot issue a septic permit for any new or increased use until a property owner has shown that the proposed wastewater discharge would not cause or contribute to a violation of Federal and State water quality standards. This means that the Health Department has had to limit what people can do with their properties, which isn’t our actual goal at all. But remember, the Health Department is obligated, by law, to ensure that the people and water in Missoula County are protected.
You may hear people saying that there isn’t actually a problem with the water quality in Seeley. That is just not true. This problem has been well documented and has existed for a long time. The data does not show it is improving.
Fortunately, there is a great solution to this problem - it’s a community sewer system. The sewer system would greatly reduce the nitrate being contributed to the Seeley Lake ground water and surface water, and over time, the water quality would improve. The Health Department supports the Seeley Sewer project and urges the people of Seeley Lake to do the same.
If you are interested in learning more please contact the Seeley Lake Sewer District at 406-677-2141 or the Missoula City-County Health Department at 406-258-4755.
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