Groundwater Recharge

Water has become a major concern with development in Montana. In closed-basins such as the Gallatin River corridor, supporting the water needs of developments while protecting the water resource is a very challenging task. Water removed from the aquifer for use in developments results in less water reaching the Gallatin River in the natural flow of the groundwater. Utility Solutions LLC became the first water utility in Montana to incorporate groundwater recharge into the water system. This process replaces the groundwater used by the water system with water from existing surface water rights and treated wastewater. Groundwater recharge makes it possible to supply water to development without adversely affecting the river or other water rights.

Treated wastewater effluent from the wastewater treatment facility at Elk Grove is pumped to the rapid infiltration basins in Rainbow Subdivision for disposal. The rapid infiltration basin is operated under a Montana Department of Environmental Quality discharge permit and treated wastewater is recharged into the Quaternary alluvial aquifer. In addition to recharge of treated wastewater into the aquifer, Utility Solutions LLC uses existing surface water rights to divert water from the Gallatin River during the irrigation season and recharges to the alluvial aquifer through recharge basins located in the Northstar Subdivision.

The aquifer recharge provided through the recharge basins, operating in concert with the wastewater rapid infiltration basins, support year-round flow of recharged groundwater back to the Gallatin River. The discharge of groundwater back to the river from two artificial recharge areas exceeds the net depletions of the surface flow in the Gallatin River associated with operation of the wells suppling the Northstar-Zoot water system. The artificial recharge to the alluvial aquifer ensures there will be no adverse effect to existing senior water users.