In 2007, WGM provided water facility planning for the City of Missoula’s Miller Creek area. The Miller Creek area is served by Mountain Water Company (municipal water service for Missoula) and is planned as a future growth area for the City of Missoula. This planning was done in order to identify needed facility improvements to provide water service to this area.
WGM completed a hydraulic analysis of the existing system using WaterCad modeling software. Deficiencies identified included small diameter mains, lack of looped mains, and lack of source water on the western portion of the system. Several alternatives were considered, including providing additional cross connections, replacing select mains with larger diameter mains, installation of a large transmission main to the western part of the water system and additional water supply wells and storage.
WGM provided cost estimates for each alternative and worked with Mountain Water personnel to select the preferred alternative, which was adding four new supply wells, a 300,000 gallon storage reservoir, a 800,000 gallon storage reservoir, a booster pump and pressure reducing valves for various pressure zones. This system is designed to serve a future population of approximately 5,000 people over the next 20 years. The project cost is estimated at $5.4 million.
WGM is currently completing final designs for the first phase of these improvements. Designs include four public supply wells, chlorination, an 18-inch transmission main and a 300,000 gallon concrete storage reservoir. By working with developers of large parcels of land in the Miller Creek area, WGM has put together a funding program for the improvements with no upfront cost for Mountain Water Company. Construction of the water system is expected to begin in 2009.
