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Water Quality | Lakeside Collection System Improvements 2026 | Comment Period Closes July 15, 2026

  • June 30 2026

Lakeside Collection System Improvements 2026

The existing wastewater collection and treatment facilities were originally constructed in 1987 using funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect water quality in Flathead Lake. While the system has functioned reliably for decades, it was not designed to accommodate current growth trends or projected future development. Although the existing collection system has served the District well, the combination of system age and projected growth necessitates infrastructure upgrades and expansion to ensure continued protection of public health and Flathead Lake water quality.

The main trunk line conveying wastewater to the treatment facility must be expanded to increase system capacity and maintain reliable service. The proposed improvements include upsizing select segments of gravity sewer main, increasing force main capacity, constructing one new lift station, and replacing three existing lift stations, specifically:

  1. The Political Hill Lift Station, a new lift station which will serve both new development and the Angel Point development, as well as existing homes that wish to connect. It will be designed for an average daily flow of approximately 84 gallons per minute.
  2. Lift Station #5 (existing) will upgraded and built in a new location. Lift Station #5 receives flow from the Political Lift Station as well as current flows, which are expected to increase due to general growth in the area.  It will be designed for an average daily flow of approximately 646 gallons per minute.
  3. Upgrade a 2,800-foot gravity main connecting Lift Station #5 to Lift Station #3 which includes 9 existing manholes that are deteriorating due to elevated hydrogen sulfide levels will be either rehabilitated or replaced. The gravity main conveys wastewater collected from areas west of US 93 and also receives pumped flows from multiple lift stations located east of US 93 along the lakeshore. The capacity increase through this section is also driven by increased flows coming from the new development south of Lakeside.
  4. Lift Station #3 (existing) is currently undersized and will have a new parallel (second) force main to convey wastewater from the lift station to the new Lift Station #1, taking a route along Juniper Bay Road. It will be designed for an average daily flow of approximately 1,124 gallons per minute. The existing force main segment between Lift Station #3 to Lift Station #1 includes a substantial amount of individual grinder pump connections and smaller lift stations that discharge into the trunk force main.
  5. Lift Station #1 will be a new lift station that will replace the existing Lift Station 1 and Lift Station 1A. The new Lift Station #1 will be a “two in one” lift station, that will take gravity flows from the Somers area as well as flows from the former Lift Station #1A. The lift station will convey the Somers flows to the WWTP through the existing 10-inch force main, while Lift Station 1A flows will be conveyed to the WWTP via a new 16-inch force main. The two force mains will combine into a single line near the new headworks at the facility. It will be designed for an average daily flow of approximately 900 gallons per minute for the existing Lift Station 1A flows, and 131 gallons per minute for the Somers flows.

The upgraded sewer force main will be located within the existing 20-foot wide sewer force main easement, next to the existing force mains. The replaced lift stations will be built near the existing lift stations. The largest of these lift stations is Lift Station #1, which is approximately 20 feet by 50 feet (1000 square feet) in size.

Associated Materials:

Comment Period Ends: July 15, 2026

Send Comments To: 

Department of Environmental Quality
Engineering Bureau
P.O. Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901

Or electronically to: DEQEngProgramMEPA@mt.gov 

Tags: MEPA, Public Comment and Water