Septic facility among county’s most pressing needs

When it comes to planning ahead for the Flathead Valley’s current and future growth, time is of the essence.

That’s true on a number of fronts, from ensuring the valley’s transportation grid is ready to handle more traffic, to shoring up our digital and communications infrastructure. And while not nearly as tantalizing a topic, laying the groundwork to handle the county’s burgeoning septic waste is among the most important issues facing our local governments.

Conservative estimates from the 2020 Census show the valley population jumped some 15% over the last decade — adding at least 13,400 residents. Of course, locals know that number is likely low, given that the count took place during the pandemic boom. Our population — and visitation — upswing is moving fast and poised to pick up even more momentum in the near-term.

To be blunt, more people in the valley equals more human waste — an issue that’s quickly becoming a challenge to deal with for myriad reasons, including the fact that land that’s suitable and available for the disposal of septic waste has become scarce and expensive in the current real estate market.

“We could get to the point where there’s no way to get rid of septage,” Flathead County Health Officer Joe Russell told the Inter Lake last fall, adding that with all of the ongoing development, private septic haulers are getting squeezed out.

Like we said, time is of the essence.

Thankfully, Flathead County is finally ready to take a big step forward as it reviews a design contract for a firm to select potential sites and design facilities for a new regional treatment and biosolids composting operation.

Waste treatment would include effluent disposal, while the biosolids composting facility would service the septage plant, as well as Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and possibly even down to Polson.

Commissioners were set to vote on the matter last week, but tabled the discussion for further review. It’s possible the group will revisit the $700,000 contract with Billings-based HDR Engineering as early as this week.

It’s important to note that funding for the design work will come from $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act money the county wisely applied for and was granted last year.

When the design contract is finalized, we encourage the firm and county to think big and give serious consideration to a facility that would accommodate the needs of the county as well as area municipalities.

Local officials have said a conglomerate facility would be a huge benefit, as septic haulers are struggling to find cost-effective and appropriate ways to discharge the waste.

In fact, the commission heard last week from local haulers themselves, who relayed that independent sites that take the waste are quickly disappearing as development of agricultural land expands.

“I spend as much time getting rid of this stuff as I do pumping it,” said Mel Cameron, owner of Mel’s Pumping Service in Columbia Falls.

The commission also heard about the pains of filtering out ample amounts of litter such as flushable wipes — a problem that is getting “worse and worse,” one private landowner that takes the waste described.

Again, any final design should certainly take the challenges of litter into account.

But at the end of the day, we know it’s all about location, location, location.

Where can these facilities be built with the least amount of impact on the community and environment, while also remaining efficient? That will be among the firm’s most pressing questions to answer.

It’s a tall order, but the community is relying on our county commission to play the long-game in planning for a proper facility that can handle the entire valley’s needs for decades to come.

Thinking small now will only present dire consequences — and more expense — down the road.