Whitefish wastewater survey now under way

The Whitefish Community Wastewater Committee is surveying Whitefish city residents and those who live in the two-mile “doughnut” around the city about septic systems and water quality issues.

The one-page questionnaire is designed to help the committee with its work on Whitefish Lake water quality and the septic leachate issue.

Septic leachate is the liquid that remains after wastewater drains through septic solids. Septic systems are designed to neutralize these contaminants before they enter ground or surface water, but if a system is improperly installed or maintained it fails to remove the contaminants, a committee report said.

A 2011 study showed septic leachate compounds in Whitefish Lake.

The wastewater committee was established to develop a long-term program to identify solutions to the septic issue.

The survey is available on the city’s website at www.whitefish.govoffice.com. Surveys returned by mail must be postmarked April 22.

Scanned and emailed surveys are due to nlorang@cityofwhitefish.org by April 25; hand-delivered and faxed surveys also are due by April 25.