Article Summary –
The article discusses the completion of the Big Sky Water and Sewer District’s new Water Resource Recovery Facility, a project costing over $50 million that doubles the wastewater treatment capacity and significantly improves nutrient removal to address pollution concerns such as algal blooms in the Gallatin River. Funded largely by a local resort tax increase, the upgraded facility now meets Montana DEQ’s Class A-1 standards, enabling the reuse of treated wastewater for purposes like irrigation and snowmaking, rather than discharging it into the river. While some see this as a positive environmental step, others argue that current standards and practices may not adequately protect the Gallatin River and that the area’s development may have already exceeded its ecological carrying capacity.
Big Sky Water Resource Recovery Facility Completes Major Upgrade
Under the noon sun, the Big Sky Water and Sewer District wrapped up six years of work on its new Water Resource Recovery Facility. Located just east of the Town Center and near the Gallatin River, the facility now serves a rapidly growing Big Sky community.
In view of Lone Peak, workers constructed condos that will send wastewater to the plant. Nearby, concrete stacks signify the sewer district’s expansion. Across the road, the Gallatin River winds through wetlands, where memories of bright-green algal blooms and an EPA impairment designation for 40 river miles underscore the importance of this $50 million overhaul.
The upgrade doubled wastewater capacity and improved nutrient removal, crucial for managing Big Sky’s growth and moving homes off septic systems. Scientists link nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to the Gallatin River’s algae growth, affecting fish and aquatic insects.
Fully operational since May, the new plant has significantly improved wastewater treatment, said general manager Ron Edwards during a recent tour. “It’s like going from driving a Buick to a Ferrari,” Edwards remarked, noting the project was funded largely by a 1 percent increase in the local resort tax.
Credit: Isabel Hicks / MTFP
Unlike other cities, Big Sky does not discharge treated wastewater directly into the Gallatin River. Instead, it is stored in holding ponds during winter and used for irrigation in summer. The treated wastewater volume has more than doubled over 30 years, with peak flows growing from 80 million gallons in 1993 to 176 million gallons in 2022. With the expansion, the district handles nearly 7,000 permits, up from 1,500 in 1990, and could reach 10,000.
To meet growth, the district plans to expand wastewater reuse options. Treated effluent now meets Montana DEQ’s Class A-1 standards, freeing more opportunities for reuse, said wastewater superintendent Adam Rutz.
Last winter, the Yellowstone Club began using treated wastewater for snowmaking. Spanish Peaks Mountain Club seeks a similar permit, and Big Sky Resort is exploring the option.
“It costs a lot to operate these systems,” Edwards said. “The cheapest option would be to discharge treated water into the Gallatin River, but we don’t, out of community commitment to reuse.” AE2S designed the project, which boosts daily capacity from 650,000 to 910,000 gallons, peaking at 1.4 million gallons, while cutting nitrogen by 75% and phosphorus by 95%.
The district trucked 80,000 gallons of seed sludge from Bozeman to grow beneficial bacteria crucial for nutrient breakdown in wastewater, explained Zach Frieling, AE2S process engineer. The old infrastructure will serve as backup, making maintenance easier, said AE2S engineer Scott Buecker.
Despite these efforts, DEQ monitoring shows nutrients still reaching the Gallatin, with algal blooms reported.
Improved wastewater treatment marks a big step for river health, said Gallatin River Task Force director Kristin Gardner, noting that the resort tax increase funded the new facility. Reusing wastewater for irrigation and snowmaking reduces demand on the drinking water system.
Others, like Guy Alsentzer of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, argue that DEQ’s standards are outdated and don’t ensure improved river health. Alsentzer claims the reuse practices are based on the “fallacy” that wastewater won’t reach surface waters.
Development continues, with the district laying concrete for future expansions that will boost daily capacity to over three million gallons. The added wastewater will come from homes in Gallatin Canyon currently on septic systems, supported by a $12 million pipeline funded by the resort tax hike.
Big Sky is about 60% developed, Edwards said. While Alsentzer sees the new plant as a positive step, he worries about exceeding the land’s ecological capacity. Others, like Gardner, hope Big Sky’s investments in water management can serve as a model for other growing mountain towns.
“We believe our efforts here can set an example for other communities,” Gardner said.
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