Why the West Reserve Sewer Interceptor is Unnecessary
The city can meet and exceed the VNRP by hooking up septics in the sewered area. The city cites the need to meet the Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Program goal of connecting 3,390 septics. 918 septics have been connected which leaves 2472. However, there are 4,946 unconnected septics and cesspools in the City's existing sewer area with sewer service (or soon to have sewer). 1,620 of these cesspools have had sewer available for decades. The remaining VNRP goal can be exceeded by 100% if the city just connects septics in the existing sewer area. The city should connect the 4,946 septics in the city sewer area before it invades our area.
Groundwater nitrate levels in the city areas up gradient of the West Reserve area are 164% worse than in the West Reserve Street area. • Groundwater flows from east to west. The test wells east of our area average 1.77 mg/l of nitrates. By comparison the wells in the West of Reserve Interceptor area average .67 mg/I of nitrates. Thus interceptor area wells have far lower nitrates than already sewered areas. Another test well on Reserve Street near Lowes has very high nitrates of 3.12 mg/l. The city needs to clean up its groundwater before it proposes to go further west into the West Reserve area.
The city has over 85 miles of old and aging clay and concrete-asbestos pipes. Many major cities (Miami, Atlanta, Key West, Birmingham, etc) have been forced to replace these same brittle and failing pipes which leak raw sewage into the groundwater. Their pipes like Missoula's pipes date back to the 1910' s. The City Of Missoula thinks that its aging sewer pipes are fixed and don't need replacement. However, on average 2 million gallons of groundwater infiltrates into cracks and breaks in the city's sewer system. Moreover, the EPA projects the national price tag to fix these types of pipe is between $40 and 60 billion each year. The City of Missoula continues to play ostrich on this problem. Hopefully when it puts its head in the sand it doesn't reach the groundwater below its septic pipes. The city needs to replace its aging sewer infrastructure before expanding to new areas. Instead of using city taxpayer sewer user fees on the West Reserve Interceptor, it needs to expend those funds on its sewer pipes and service connectors.
The .67 mg/I Nitrate levels in the West Reserve area are far better than the EPA safe drinking water maximum of 10 mg/I. The West Reserve area does not need sewer to change its drinking water. At nitrates of .67 mg/l, our drinking water is far better than the EPA standards. It is even better than Perrier Water which has nitrates of 6.3 mg/l. By comparison, Mountain Water's nitrates range from .36 - 2.3 mg/l.
The change in Phosphate and Nitrogen is far worst on the Clark Fork River than on the Bitterroot. Phosphates increase by 48% on the Clark Fork River after it passes the City and sewer plant. There is no increase in phosphates on the Bitterroot River below the West Reserve area. Nitrates increase by 218% on the Clark Fork and only increase by 20% on the Bitterroot. The City needs to clean up the Clark Fork River.
The Target Range area is a Low Density area averaging .5 homes per acre. This low density far surpasses the 1 septic per acre minimum requirement of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Adding sewer will dramatically increase the density of our rural and semi-rural area. It will result in greatly increased traffic and a lessening of our quality of life. The City has already proven its inability to handle traffic buildups due to growth. Why does it want to force these problems on our relatively quiet rural area?
The City and County have ever increasing traffic problems brought on by growth. The problems with traffic on Reserve, Mullan, Russell and other major arterials are the result of accelerated population and vehicle growth. The County has admitted that there is a lack of adequate funding to fix these existing problems. Why does the City want to further exacerbate traffic problems by extending sewer and promoting high density? The city knows that the sewer will promote rapid growth. The Mullan Road area currently has 2500 homes. Now that sewer is approved the planning office calculates that there will be 11,000 additional housing units and a total population of 30,000. There is an inability to solve the current traffic problems in the Mullan Road area, why place the same burden on our area? The City and County should absorb and mitigate the existing and pending problems of the Mullan Road area before piling the same problems on our area.
New, fully-tested advance treatment septics out perform the city sewer plant. The UM and The Missoula City-County Water Quality District have operated and tested an advance treatment Waterloo septic system in Target Range. Over the years it has proven to reduce nitrates and phosphates by over 97%. It also has been shown to have a very high reduction rate of fecal Coliform. This system is ideally suited for the low density West Reserve area. The County should approve and promote this system for the West Reserve area.
The city should cleanup its own backyard, its high nitrate ground water and its leaking sewer lines. It should connect the 4,946 septics in the sewer area. It should hold off any further expansion of sewer lines until it has absorbed the 11,000 new housing units and 30,000 people planned for the Mullan Road area as a result of their new sewer lines. In short the city should take care of the problems on its plate before dramatically altering our area with the same problems. We don't want 11,000 new units in our area. However, in ignorance of what has been just shown, we fear, the city will use all of its power to force sewer upon us because it is not about the environment or clean water- It's about increased tax base and money.
Finally, the residents of our area have located here, invested in their homes and schools because they are drawn to the quieter, rural, semi-rural community atmosphere of our area. Many are refugees of the city. They want more room for their children, a place to raise llamas, dogs, sheep, and even cattle. They like the neighborliness of the residents, the closeness of wildlife, fishing, the forest and the absence of major highways and noise. We hope the city would respect the community we have fostered and not impose this unneeded sewer and resulting massive growth upon us.
This information is presented by the Target Range Homeowners Association. The Association was formed in 1980 with the purpose of: "To foster the maintenance and improvement of those environmental and aesthetic qualities, public improvements and facilities of the (area) as a rural residential community of the of the highest order"
If you would like to become a member, please contact Anne Rupkalvis (549-6689) or any of the following:
TARGET RANGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
"Rural By Design"
Peggie Morrison- Vice Pres. - 728-5302; Anne Rupkalvis- Sec / Treasurer; Lary Benbenek, Area 1, 721-0629; Carol McQuade- Area 3, 728-5673; Fred Stewart-Area 4, 549-9017; Helen Orendain-Area 5, 721-8995. We are looking for representatives for Areas 2 and 6 |
