Water Treatment News
Do Not Consume Advisory:
On May 2, 2023, the Town of Hysham was issued a Do Not Consume Advisory from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality effective immediately for the Town’s water system. A copy of the full Do Not Consume notice can be viewed here.
What does this mean:
- The use of bottled water is recommended at this time. Do not use the water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, making baby formula or food preparation. Bottled water should be used for all of the above necessities until further notice.
- People with severely compromised immune systems, infants and some elderly may be at increased risk when exposed to contaminated water. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
- Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special risk for infants, young children and people with severely compromised immune systems. The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
The Town is continuing to work towards improvements at the water treatment plant that will restore water quality as quickly as possible. Updates to the status and health advisory as available will continue to be posted on the website.
Notice of Explanation for Floodplains
EARLY PUBLIC NOTICE FOR FLOODPLAINS
September 23, 2024
The Town of Hysham, Montana, is considering a Water Treatment Plan improvements project, including a roof replacement, rehabilitation of the CAC/Filter #1, SCADA upgrades (including updating controls for the rehabilitation Filter #1, providing a SCADA computer to allow data logging and reporting, and programming the system with adequate controls and alarms to bring the water treatment plant back into compliance with DEQ’s policy for automated/unattended surface water treatment plant), replacement of the valves associated with Filter #1, and backwash pumps and backwash inlet piping replacement, totaling approximately 0.045 acres of floodplain involved as a CDBG project under the Montana CDBG program. The project is located in the 100-year floodplain. The Town is interested in discussing alternatives to this project and receiving public comments regarding possible adverse impacts that could result from the project and suggestions for how to mitigate them. A public hearing is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on October 9, 2024, at the Town Hall, 502 Elliott Ave, Hysham, MT 59038, to discuss the proposed project. Please attend or send written comments to: Ken Rolandson, PO Box 228, Hysham, MT 59038. Comments will be received until October 8, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. A full description of the proposed action may be reviewed at the Town Hall, 502 Elliott Ave, Hysham, MT 59038, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Ken Rolandson, Mayor
Environmental Certifying Officer
2nd CDBG Hearing and PER Presentation
The Town held a public hearing on September 27, 2023 at 5:30 PM to discuss the proposed project water project and CDBG grant application. Great West Engineering presented the findings of the Water System Preliminary Engineering Report including recommendations, anticipated costs, and potential phasing and funding options. A copy of the presentation can be viewed here.
The Town is also inviting anyone interested to a tour of the Water Treatment Plant on October 7, 2023 at 11:30 AM.
Water Update
Good Afternoon folks. Wanted to give everyone a quick update on the progress at the plant. Everything is on schedule to have Filter 2 up and running at the end of September. We will be putting all the filter media in this week. Once the media is in then the final touches on the filter will be done. The electric actuators will be in this week and installed. The electricians started running conduit on Friday 9/8, and will continue to run conduit and pull wire this week. I had a teams meeting with InControl on 9/1, to look at and go over the new SCADA system and everything looks fantastic on that front. InControl will be on site 9/25 to begin the SCADA install. The next 2 weeks will be very busy weeks at the plant in order to make sure all the items that need to be addressed before the 25th are done. I will do my best to keep the website updated as often as possible during the home stretch. Thank you everyone for your patience and understanding.
Water Update
Hello everyone,
First I want to apologize that I have not update everyone sooner. It has been a rather busy 3 weeks since my last update. The laser panels in Filter 2 have been installed and grouting will be done later this evening or tomorrow. The grout will require a 7 day curing time before filter media can be added to the filter. We were waiting on the waste gate for filter 2 to arrive and we will be receiving it sometime this week. Great West engineering, InControl, Mayor Rolandson and myself have spent quite a bit of time visiting back and forth in order to hammer out the final details for Phase 1. We have electricians, from Millenium, that will be onsite an Steve(from InControl) and myself will be working with them to be sure that we have all the conduit and wires ran for all we need done. We will also be making sure that all electrical issues that need to be addressed will be addressed during there time here. InControl will be onsite starting Sept. 25th to start revamping the SCADA. During this time Filter 2 will be turned on and ran to be sure that everything is working exactly as need be. If all goes right, Filter 2 will be on-line producing quality drinking water at the end of Sept. We are a little behind from our original forecast but we have made changes to some of the components that will benefit the running of the filter and make things much ore efficient.
Water Project Update 8/7
Good evening everyone. I wanted to give everyone an update on the progress of the project. As of late Saturday evening, the clarification chamber portion of the filter has been rebuilt. Thanks to Bills help loading in the clarification beads for the chamber I was able to complete that portion a little quicker than expected. This week I will begin work on rebuilding the filter side of things. This portion of the rebuild will take a little longer to get done. We have to allow the proper amount of time for the sealant and grout to dry, Once that is dry then the process of adding the filter media will begin. Though it should move a little quicker it will still take a little time in order to allow us to even out the media as best as possible. Once all of this is completed and the final parts are added then we will be able to get the filter running i order to properly season it. Once properly seasoned it will be put online and will then supply high quality for the town. I will continue to give the town updates as I can. My goal is to keep reporting weekly updates. Thank you everyone for your patience in this difficult and challenging time. We are doing everything we can to get everything back to a business as usual situation.
Water Project Update
For the last month and a half the town has been receiving parts deliveries from Wes Tech. The first few deliveries contained parts that either went in towards the end of renovation or needed other parts in order to be installed. Today, July 27th, the town received packages that would allow the filter renovation to begin in earnest. With today”s parts delivery we have all but a few parts on site. The parts that we have not received can be installed at the end of renovation, so there is nothing to prevent us from beginning renovation. Renovation will be begin on on July 28th and is planned to be completed no later than the end of August. At the end of the renovation the filter will be filled and ran for at least 1 to 2 weeks in order to properly season the filter. If all goes according to schedule the newly renovated filter will be up and producing quality treated water by mid-September. I will continue to keep you updated on the renovation project every week or as time allows. Thank you everyone for your patience with this project.
6/15/23
The Town held a Needs Hearing for the Community Development Block Grant program. Following the hearing, Great West Engineering gave a presentation with an update on the water treatment plant. A copy of the presentation can be viewed here.
6/8/23
The Montana Coal Board approved a Scope of Work change at their quarterly meeting to allow their awarded funds ($189,000 in total) to go towards the emergency water treatment plant repairs, including filter parts/materials, equipment, and SCADA improvements.
6/1/23
Copies of the Town of Hysham’s 2022 annual drinking water report were posted at Valley Farmers Supply, the Courthouse, the Post Office, the Friendly Corner, and Town Hall. You can also view a copy here.
5/19/23
The Town held a special meeting to approve the proposed modified budget, which allowed the official approval of the In Control quote for the SCADA. The Town signed a contract with In Control the same day, which would allow In Control to start work immediately, helping to ensure that their work can be completed within similar timing of the filter rehabilitation.
5/10/23
The Town held a regular Council meeting in which a large number of the public was in attendance. Great West Engineering and the Town provided information about the water system. The meeting was open to the public to ask questions. At the meeting, the Town approved the quote from In Control, pending the availability of funds to pay for the work.