Aging water mains to be replaced next summer

The Town of Ekalaka plans to use over $1.6 million in combined funding to replace nearly one mile of aging water lines. Construction is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2022, according to a preliminary engineering report completed by Great West Engineering of Billings. An anticipated bid date is early next spring.

The project focuses on replacing old cast iron pipe lines with PVC, starting with sections that are the highest priority. All of the water mains on Munro Avenue, Sandy Street and Senator Street will be replaced, as will a section of pipe on Chicago Avenue and a large majority of North Central Avenue north of the intersection where Central meets Munro and Senator.

Improvements include approximately 5,140 lineal feet of water line replacement. In addition to the new piping, the improvements will include new valves and hydrant spacing will be updated to meet current design standards, ensuring that a working hydrant is available for each block of new water main installed.

Funding in place for the project will come from four different sources.

The first source is a Treasure State Endowment Program (TSEP) project grant of $500,000. TSEP grants can be used to assist drinking water, wastewater, storm sewer or storm drain, solid waste and bridge projects. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to: engineering designs and inspection, grant administration, surveying or geotechnical, and construction.

The second source is a Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) grant totaling $125,000.

The rest of the funding will come from combined American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Among the $1.9 trillion worth of federal COVID-19 relief from the act, $350 billion was set aside for “Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.” Fifty percent of those funds will be disbursed in 2021 and the rest will be disbursed next year.

Montana allocated money based off of population. Ekalaka will receive $219,850 total in ARPA funds and Carter County will receive $782,517. Combined, those amounts make up the rest of the projects $1,627,367 in funding. Eligible use of ARPA funds is to make investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.