Kalispell City Council work session to focus on drinking water standards

Kalispell City Council will discuss emerging issues regarding drinking water standards, and how the city may need to change policies to comply with new federal and state standards, during a work session Monday.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the City Hall, 201 First Avenue East. It can also be attended virtually via Zoom.

As part of regulations mandated by the 1974 Safe Water Drinking Act, the Environmental Protection Agency and Montana Department of Environmental Protection set standards for municipalities to follow for testing and treatment of drinking water.

In 2021/2022, EPA and DEQ heightened their drinking water contamination reviews for manganese, lead and copper, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The regulatory agencies may soon update their standards for these substances, so the city council is holding two meetings, the first of which will occur on Nov. 14, to discuss the effect of changing regulations on the Public Works Department’s responsibilities.

Public Works staff will brief the council and the public on the regulatory changes, in part to comply with the council’s recent adoption of an environmental quality legislative platform. Staff remarks will focus on the city’s utility management and any potential economic impacts.

The public is invited to attend and participate by commenting or asking questions after the Public Works staff has presented their findings. Public comments are also accepted online before the meeting at publiccomment@kalispell.com.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at aknowler@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4407.