Final Report - Flathead County, Montana

DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT:
There have been numerous requests and inquiries over the years about existing
and proposed development connecting to the District’s sewer main running down Big
Mountain to East Lakeshore Drive. The District has refused to allow any of these
connections for several reasons.
The Agreement between the District and the City of Whitefish limits the total
number of EDUs to 2,000, and although the District is currently not near that total, giving
away allotted wastewater capacity could possibly jeopardize future growth within the
District. Wastewater flow from the District is currently metered at three (3) locations –
one on the 12” interceptor line near the old inlet to abandoned Lagoon Cell #1; one on
the Elk Highlands’ 8” main prior to its connection with the 12” interceptor line, also near
abandoned Cell #1; and one at the bottom of the mountain just before connection to the
City’s manhole at East Lakeshore Drive. Any connection to the District’s sewer main
would also have to be metered requiring the District to first annex the new service area
and then requiring the District to bill and collect fees from the new users.
Lastly, in accordance with the Agreement, no other party outside of the District’s
boundaries may connect to the District’s collection system without the express prior
written consent of the City and the District. The District is currently content with its
Agreement with the City and is reluctant to do anything that may expose that Agreement
to possible revisions that could adversely affect future development within the District or
subject the District to additional operation and maintenance costs.
Figure BM-1 at the end of this section of the report shows the District boundaries,
the District’s wastewater collection system and properties with on-site septic systems in
the general vicinity of the Whitefish Mountain Resort and the gravity conveyance line
down the mountain to East Lakeshore Drive. Also see Exhibit BM-1 at the end of this
report for a 24” x 36” plan sheet showing the same but at a much more readable scale.
Sewage Treatment in the Flathead Basin 9