Stelling Engineer’s experience with wastewater improvements provides the ability needed, as well as a history, of applying innovative/alternative technologies in treatment. In the past ten years, Stelling Engineers has completed several municipal wastewater engineering projects throughout Montana.

SEI provides experienced staff with the collective planning and design experience of more than 14 wastewater collection and treatment systems.

Town of Alberton, MT

• Owner: Town of Alberton, MT
• Population: 400
• Project Cost: $1,213,000 ($400,000 CDBG Grant and $413,000 RUS Grant)
• Funding Source(s): Rural Development and CDBG
• Funding Administration: BETA
• Project Engineer: Mitch Stelling, P.E.

The Town of Alberton (population 400) was faced with aging sewage lift stations and an undersized two-cell lagoon facility. With successful funding applications to CDBG and Rural Development (by BETA), design of replacement lift stations and a new aerated lagoon complex proceeded based on a Facilities Plan prepared by Stelling Engineers. A new gravity outfall sewer to the lagoons was also strategically designed to replace an existing force main, and allow abandonment of one existing lift station. The project included wastewater facility planning, design, and construction of new:

• Three-cell aerated lagoon
• Submersible main lift station
• Standby power at main lift station
• Satellite lift station reconstruction
• Gravity trunk sewer
• 2,200 LF of 8-inch PVC Collection Line
• Water meters for all users

Stelling Engineers concentrated on affordable improvements for the Town, minimizing both capital and annual O&M costs for the new system. A value-engineered design, coupled with rigorous construction inspection kept project costs within budget and assured timely completion.

Highwood County Water & Sewer District

Project Information:

• Owner: Highwood County Water and Sewer District, Highwood MT
• Population: 200
• Project Cost: $873,700 ($400,000 CDBG Grant and $473,700 RUS Loan/Grant)
• Funding Source: Rural Development
• Funding Administration: Bearpaw Development Corp.
• Project Engineer: Mitch Stelling, P.E.

The Highwood County Water & Sewer District (population 200) was faced with a renewed MPDES Discharge Permit that limited ammonia toxicity in Highwood Creek. Their old package plant was deteriorating, and unable to meet the new permit limits. After reviewing treatment alternatives through the facilities planning process, the District opted for a new aerated lagoon with seasonal storage. Stelling Engineers designed a new main lift station, utilizing the old stations wet well, and seasonal lagoon storage to eliminate discharge during months when stream conditions were prone to ammonia toxicity. This project included wastewater facility planning, design, and construction administration for:

• Wastewater facilities planning
• Three-cell aerated lagoon
• New main lift station (reconstruction)
• Ultraviolet disinfection system

Stelling Engineers researched alternatives to costly ammonia removal, arriving at the seasonal discharge concept. By designing the new main lift station to re-use an existing wet well, additional cost was saved. The use of ultraviolet disinfection avoided the need for effluent de-chlorination. Thoroughly researching design options, with an emphasis on operational simplicity and low O&M, saved considerable project cost.

Sweetgrass Community County Water/Sewer District, Sweetgrass, MT

Project Summary Information:

• Owner: Sweetgrass Community County Water/Sewer District, Sweetgrass, MT
• Population: 120
• Project Cost: $937,100 ($435,000 CDBG Grant, $100,000 DNRC Grant, $213,000 TSEP Grant, and $230,000 SRF Loan)
• Funding Source(s): CDBG, DNRC, TSEP, SRF
• Funding Administration: Business Services
• Project Engineers: Mitch Stelling, P.E., Josh Sommer, P.E.

The Community of Sweetgrass (population 120) had an aging, one-cell lagoon facility that was not providing adequate treatment of wastewater. Prior to construction of the new facility, the District was having difficulty meeting the limits on their discharge permit. After Stelling Engineers evaluated several options for lagoon improvements, the District approved an option which replaced the old lagoon with a new, two-cell faculative lagoon facility at the existing facility site. This project included planning, design, and construction for:

• A two-cell faculative lagoon
• Concrete inlet and outlet structures
• An ultraviolet disinfection system

Significant challenges faced during construction were overcome due to the commitment of Stelling Engineers, the grant administrator, and the District. We would be happy to discuss the difficulties encountered during construction and how they were resolved to the satisfaction of the District.

Great Falls International Airport Authority

A lined, two-cell aerated lagoon for treatment of storm water containing airport deicing chemicals, concrete diversion structures, control valves and piping, and waterfowl deterrent cable.