Kalispell Development News

Calispell Unveils 20-Year Infrastructure Plan for Water, Sewer, and Wastewater Treatment

The City of Calispell presented comprehensive facility plan updates for its water system, sanitary sewer collection system, and advanced wastewater treatment plant. These plans, developed with engineering consultant AE2S, outline a 20-year roadmap for infrastructure improvements, driven by growth projections, updated costs, new development, and the Montana Land Use Planning Act (SB 382). The water plan identifies $117 million in projects, including new wells and transmission mains, while the sewer collection plan requires $82 million for projects like the westside interceptor extension. The advanced wastewater treatment plant faces significant regulatory uncertainty regarding nutrient removal, with potential capital investments ranging from $122 million to $250 million depending on future permitting scenarios. Key considerations include nitrogen removal, aging infrastructure, hydraulic capacity limitations in primary clarifiers and EQ basins, and potential upgrades to meet stringent future discharge limits.