PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Currently, three storage tanks with a total capacity of approximately 800,000 gallons are located within the City, providing a days reserve in the event of a power outage. An additional storage tank under construction and scheduled for completion in the summer of 2008 will provide an additional 1.5 million gallons of storage, or 2-3 days additional reserve in the event of an emergency in which power would be lost.

Riverside Park Water Tanks

The two most visible landmarks of Miles City while descending I-94 from the west are the water tanks standing in Riverside Park. Standing at roughly 175 ft., they mark a century's progress in the growth of the community. The older of the two tanks was erected in 1911 and has become an historic fixture in the minds of all who've grown to love Miles City and Riverside Park, in particular. Modern steel typically have a useful life of less than sixty years. This little 150,000 gallon miracle has served our community for 97 years!

When the City's primary water storage facility, the 50 year old concrete Carbon Hill Water Tank, failed catastrophically in June of 2005, the newer Riverside Park tank (pictured at right, below) was being erected and was still two months from completion. That failure placed the entire storage burden for the city on our trusty old beer can thin 150,000 gallon centurion. Round-the-clock shifts from operators at the Water Treatment plant, limited power outages during the summer, and a couple of fire-free months in the middle of summer prevented a critical water shortage from crippling Miles City as it anxiously awaited completion of the new tank.

The new tank was largely financed through the Drinking Water Revolving Fund, administered through the MT. Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and by proceeds from the Treasure State Endowment Program.

Left to Right: Original 1911 tank, 500K gallon tank erected in 2007.

Carbon Hill Water Tank

The City's primary water storage reservoir for nearly sixty years, a 1.5 million gallon concrete tank constructed on top of "Carbon Hill" near the southeastern corner of the city limits, failed catastrophically in June of 2005 when the northern slope footings of the tank settled and compromised the integrity of the entire structure.

Again, public financing available through DNRC's Drinking Water Revolving Fund and the TSEP program, Miles City has demolished the old tank, secured federal right-of-way for excavation, and has nearly finished construction of a new steel replacement tank of similar capacity, but greater durability. The target completion date of the new Carbon Hill Water Tank project is late spring of 2009.

DRINKING WATER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

Like many cities and towns across the U.S., Miles City contends with an aging water distribution network and works aggressively to replace and reroute the nearly sixty miles of water mains that have served its residents for almost a century. The challenge is to maintain adequate volume and pressure in existing lines while repairing mainlines that break from normal wear-and-tear and expanding the reach of services into new areas of growth. all while complying with water quality mandates from the EPA and MT. Department of Environmental Quality.

The following file is in .pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat reader.

MAP OF WATER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

WASTEWATER COLLECTION NETWORK

Corollary to out Drinking Water Distribution Network, is providing for the evacuation of the City's wastewater through our Wastewater Collection Network. Both systems have been constructed simultaneously with one another and so face similar aging issues. Consequently, aggressive remedial action is required to repair, replace our Wastewater Collection Network and comply with regulatory mandates just as in the case of our Water Distribution Network.

The following file is in .pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat reader.

MAP OF WASTEWATER COLLECTION NETWORK