Southwest Montana News

STAGE 1 RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE

Stage 1 water restrictions for Kalispell water customers have been triggered by current water production demands. All water users are being asked to voluntarily look at ways to reduce water use. City staff have educated top irrigation users to help them learn how to use water more efficiently, and the City Parks Department will reduce the duration they irrigate parks by 25%. 

There are many ways to reduce the amount of water used without compromising a green lawn or convenience. Just a few small changes from each household can make a big difference. 100 ways to conserve water can be found at:  100+ Ways to Conserve Water - Water Use It Wisely. Water conservation tips will also be posted on the city social media sites.

WATER RESTRICTION STAGES

As of July 5, 2023, Stage 1 water restrictions which include voluntary water conservation is in place. If water demands increase past a certain threshold, Stage 2 water restrictions will be required. Stage 2 restrictions would include requiring all customers to only irrigate on certain days and times based on address. Construction projects would also be limited in how much water they can use daily. Stage 2 would also trigger a further reduction in the water used to irrigate city parks. If Stage 3 water restrictions become necessary, all outdoor and construction water use will be prohibited, and parks will no longer be watered. If mandatory restrictions become necessary, the City will issue further instructions through a press release and on our social media pages.

WHY RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY

An emergency ordinance authorizing the city to establish temporary water conservation restrictions was passed by City Council on June 5, 2023. This was necessary as the water system may not be capable of supporting summer irrigation peak demands as additional water wells and storage facilities are being designed and developed.

Kalispell’s water supply comes from ten groundwater sources (wells), which supply water to the distribution system, and eight water facilities that include four storage reservoirs. In 2018, Kalispell completed a Water Facility Plan Update (WFPU) to address system challenges such as population growth, increasing water demands, aging infrastructure, and institute effective capital improvement planning. The WFPU provided a guide for short-term, near-term, and long-term management rehabilitation and capital improvements, of which the City has been working towards implementing.

An eleventh well, the Noffsinger Spring facility, was taken offline in 2021. Noffsinger Spring is Kalispell’s oldest water facility and while the spring water source is safe for consumption, the facility’s condition no longer provides the necessary protections against exposures to environmental elements. In 2020, Public Works initiated the North Main Well capital project to replace the Noffsinger Spring water source. North Main Well’s production development and water right application is complete, the project is bid and awarded, and the facility construction is scheduled to begin this summer.

For more information on where City of Kalispell water comes from please visit News Flash • Kalispell, MT • CivicEngage. Questions can be directed to the Public Works Department at 406-758-7720. Thank you to all City of Kalispell water customers for your conservation efforts and your patience as additional water wells and storage facilities are completed.

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