Happy Valley sings the blues.

By LYNNETTE HINTZE

Water outages prompt testing, state oversight

The Daily Inter Lake

A new well could be the ultimate solution for water problems at Happy Valley, water-board members told homeowners at an emergency meeting last Thursday.

The Happy Valley Water Board called the meeting to stress the need for homeowners to follow lawn-watering restrictions in place until the end of September.

Located five miles south of Whitefish off U.S. 93, Happy Valley Homesites is one of the county's oldest subdivisions and currently has 182 water users, with the potential for 210 hookups.

Three water outages this summer at Happy Valley homes situated above the subdivision's two water tanks prompted the state Department of Environmental Quality to begin sampling for water quality.

"If we had known [about the outages] immediately, we'd probably have put them on a boil-water order," said Greg Butts, DEQ section supervisor for public water supplies. "Our intent is to write a violation letter."

Because the subdivision couldn't provide the required minimum 35 pounds-per-square-inch water supply to all homes, it violated laws that govern safe drinking water. The violations don't immediately carry a fine, Butts said, but chronic problems can force the agency to pursue enforcement action.

The outages were caused when the level in the water tank dropped to five feet, causing the low-level switch to shut off the pumps, Butts said.

"When that occurs, the people who live above the tanks have no water at all," he said.

Those below the tanks get some pressure due to gravity.

"Our concern is that this has the potential for contamination to enter the system," Butts said.

Without pressure, water can be back-siphoned into the tank from water heaters, toilet tanks and any number of sources. Leaks in the system also let dirt enter the water line.

The state agency tested water in one Happy Valley home whose owner complained about the outages.

"It came back OK, which is good, but it's indicative of only one home," Butts said. "We'll be sampling more this week."

DROUGHT CONDITIONS over the past few years are partially to blame for a dwindling water supply, the board told homeowners at the emergency meeting.

Happy Valley is served by a public water district with two wells. One well, drilled to 390 feet, generates from 30 to 40 gallons a minute and is "not a big producer," Butts said.

Water-board chairman Randy Holland, who did not return phone calls from the Daily Inter Lake, told Butts earlier that he'd encountered some trouble with the pump "sucking in air" on that well, and subsequently closed the valve to slow water flow, Butts said.

The second well, at 450 feet, is "doing OK," he added.

Wells in the Happy Valley area don't tap into the deep artesian source that supplies other parts of the county and therefore aren't nearly as prolific as wells elsewhere, Butts explained.

Kurt Hafferman, manager of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation water-resources office, said some area shallow aquifers have experienced problems with water availability due to the drought, although some wells in the West Valley area rebounded this year.

Hafferman said he hasn't been contacted by the water-district board and couldn't speculate about the reasons for Happy Valley's problems.

"It could be anything from infrastructure to well problems," he said.

Flathead County has no authority over the Happy Valley Water District, said county health administrator Joe Russell, even though the county has been peripherally involved in some instances.

"We're in step with DEQ," Russell said. "This [Happy Valley water problem] has been going on for years. It's not an adequate supply for that many homes. They need to upgrade."

DRILLING A new well would cost about $100,000, tapping each user about $550 to $600, homeowners were told.

"If it means I can use as much water as I darn well please, then sign me up," Happy Valley homeowner Gary Elliott said in a phone interview after the meeting.

After living in the city of Whitefish for years, he considers the current $25 per month water fee "a screaming deal."

Elliott said he'd like to see the Happy Valley Water District keep a larger reserve fund.

"I think they have only $15,000 in the reserve fund, but they have made improvements over the past few years," Elliott said. "I think they do a reasonable job."

Happy Valley homeowner Len Hall said he's miffed by the recently imposed sprinkling restrictions. "We've been here since 1980 and we've had drought years and haven't been down to watering on just one day."

Hall said he was watering his lawn last Tuesday when board chairman Randy Holland stopped by to inform him of the emergency restrictions. Hall hadn't yet known about the restrictions and by coincidence happened to be watering on the correct day.

From now until the end of September, Happy Valley homes with even numbers can sprinkle only on Tuesday morning and evening, while odd-numbered homes are allowed Friday morning and evening sprinkling. Hand watering is allowed every day, however.

"They should have sent out letters to homeowners," Hall said. "We're sitting out here in the dark. We need more information."

Hall was also puzzled why the water-level indicator on the water tank has been removed. Previously, the gauge let homeowners know how much water remained in the tank.

THE WATER BOARD

published two full-page advertisements in the Daily Inter Lake to publicize the meeting and drew more than 75 homeowners to the emergency session.

The board is exploring options for ensuring Happy Valley's future water supply, said one board member who declined to give her name. Water has become a contentious issue in Happy Valley, she said, and some board members have been physically threatened and treated rudely when they've gone door-to-door about watering restrictions.

"Happy Valley is an oxymoron," she said.

The slate of five water-board members are elected during general county elections; the four-year terms are staggered. The state pays a stipend of $60 per month for each board member.

The district contracts operators to maintain the system, but it's not known how much the operators receive. Board chairman Randy Holland is listed with the state as a certified operator for the system, but is not the principal operator, Butts said.

"I think he's a back-up operator," he added, referring to Holland.

Some Happy Valley homeowners questioned whether a conflict of interest exists by having Holland as both a chairman and back-up operator.

Russell said it's "not a good practice" to have the same person running the board and operating the water system.

Some homeowners also criticized the board for allowing homes to hook onto the system while there have been supply problems. While the water district hasn't expanded its boundaries, lots have been built out, adding 11 homes to the system in recent years.

THE BOARD plans to call another meeting in September to outline options for dealing with the water shortage. In addition to a new well, other possibilities are water meters on individual homes, purchasing water from another district such as Forest Acres across U.S. 93 or reopening an old well.

Bill Leonard, a consultant with Midwest Assistance Program, said he's offered his services to help Happy Valley tap into resources and programs that can offer money and assistance for rural community water systems.

The nonprofit Midwest Assistance Program is part of a national alliance called the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and provides technical assistance and training to rural communities in nine states in the Upper Midwest and Great Plains.

"We're in business because there are small communities that need help," said Leonard, who's also the longtime general manager of the Whitefish Water and Sewer District. "It's free assistance. I come already paid for."

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.