Workers will soon begin drilling a new municipal well on Polson’s east side to meet increasing demand for water, part of a massive overhaul of the city’s drinking water and sewer systems.
“It’s just adding to our water supply,” said city water and sewer superintendent Tony Porrazzo. “In total, it will probably be done by the end of August or September. We still have to build the pumphouse and injection plant and pipe it into the other system.”
The new well comes with a price tag of about $180,000, and is part of a $1.2 million upgrade to the city’s water mains. Polson will also have a new sewer treatment plant next year if things go according to plan.
“That’s been going on for seven years,” Porrazzo explained. “The construction part of (the new sewer treatment plant) probably won’t start until next spring. These things take so long to get accomplished. It took a year to even get this loan thing going through.”
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Gov. Steve Bullock announced Monday that ratepayers in Polson will save $77,820 related to the cost of the project thanks to changes he made to the State Revolving Fund loan program last year.
The savings come as a result of two SRF loans to the city, totaling $463,000, to fund the drinking water system improvements. One of the loans, for $231,000, is forgivable if certain conditions are met, which will save the community even more money.
“Through strong fiscal management, and a bit of common sense, we’re ensuring ratepayers in Polson can keep more money in their pockets, while making critical infrastructure upgrades,” Bullock said in a statement. “These upgrades will help to support important economic development in the community. We’ll continue to work with local communities to find responsible ways to make critical infrastructure improvements, and save money for Main Street Montana businesses and customers.”
The SRF loan program, which is administered by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, enables Montana communities to upgrade or expand critical drinking or wastewater treatment facilities at the lowest possible cost.
Last year, Bullock reduced the long-term interest rates on loans through the program from 3 percent to 2.5 percent in order to expand local governments’ access to capital. Bullock also reduced construction interest rates from 3 percent to 1.5 percent and cut the amount of financial reserves and debt service coverage communities must hold in order to receive a loan. Those reduced rates, part of Bullock’s Main Street Montana Project, are expected to provide an additional $40 million in savings for ratepayers statewide in the first year.
Porrazzo said he won’t know how many gallons per minute the new well in Polson will produce until it has been drilled.
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