City of Libby Water System Improvements

The City of Libby, Montana, owns and operates an extensive drinking water supply, treatment and distribution system. Portions of this system have been in operation since 1911.  As with similar water utility systems throughout the United States, the Libby Water System has components that have reached the end of their service life.
 
The City of Libby continues to make improvements to the water system as part of a regularly-updated capital facility plan.  As part of this plan, the City of Libby will make significant improvements to the water system over the next two years.  These improvements include:
 

• Replacement of the Flower Creek Dam;
• Replacement of 1,600 feet of leaking water mains, which currently account for over two-thirds of detected water leaks;
• Installation of five pressure reducing valve stations and 2,900 feet of new water mains to increase pressure in low-pressure zones and decrease excessive pressures;
• Replacement of the 980-foot treated water transmission main;
• Replacement of 6,900 feet of the raw water transmission main;
• Rehabilitation of the Lower Flower Creek Diversion.

 
The total estimated project cost for these improvements is $12,500,000. The City of Libby anticipates funding these projects through a combination of grants and loans that will be available in late 2012 and 2013.