City administrator warns of grease dumping that threatens Libby's sewer plant; city tracking source

During the city-administrator report, Mister Sartre told the council that someone has been dumping large quantities of food-grade grease into the sewer system, creating "up to a two-foot gelatinous blanket" over the oxidation ditch and clarifiers and forcing staff to run overtime to maintain the plant.

"Because what happens if we can't get that grease out of our system, it depletes the oxygen... there's a chance that it could actually go over and be discharged into the river," Mister Sartre said. He said the city has ordered chemicals to treat the problem, will coordinate inspections with the Department of Health and plans a public information campaign informing businesses not to dump grease down drains.

Sartre also provided capacity figures: sewer capacity is about 500,000 gallons per day with a current average of about 280,000 gallons (about 56% of capacity); the water plant design capacity is roughly 4,000,000 gallons per day with current average around 1,000,000 (about 30% of capacity). He said replacements for key pumps feeding the half-million-gallon storage tank had arrived and work was being scheduled.

During public comment, resident D C Orr raised broader concerns about how new developments at the Port Property would impact the city sewer and whether impact fees would be collected if those sites tied in; Orr urged council transparency and an inventory of out-of-city connections. Council asked staff to ensure infrastructure and impact-fee policies are clarified as annexations and development proceed.