Water Quality | Final Environmental Assessment for the Lakeside Wastewater Improvements Project Phase 2
In the Lakeside Water and Sewer District (“District”) Wastewater Treatment Facility Plan (September 2025), the District identified the limited capacity of the existing aerated wastewater treatment lagoons to meet anticipated demand. To effectively treat the septage load and meet the expected growth, the District determined that improvements to their wastewater treatment system were needed.
The proposed Phase 2 Wastewater Treatment Improvements project would include construction and operation of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) advanced mechanical wastewater treatment plant to replace the District’s existing aerated lagoon system, as well as construction and operation of three rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) for groundwater disposal of treated wastewater.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) accepted public comment from April 9, 2026, through April 30, 2026, on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for The Lakeside County Water & Sewer District Wastewater System Improvements Project – Phase 2 near Somers in Flathead County. A public hearing was held on Thursday April 23, 2026 in the Community Room at the Lakeside QRU building where public comment was collected.
DEQ received numerous public comments on the draft Environmental Assessment (EA). DEQ reviewed all comments and responded to substantive comments in the final EA.
DEQ prepared a final EA to disclose the potential environmental impacts from the project. To view the final EA, please visit the DEQ website at: https://deq.mt.gov/public/publicnotice.
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Tags: MEPA, Water and Public Notice