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Columbia Falls wins APWA honor after upgrade cuts nitrogen discharge to a fraction of its permit limit
Summary
The city accepted an APWA Exceptional Performance Award for its 2025 wastewater treatment modernization; staff said the new bioreactor has increased nitrogen removal roughly 70–75% and current average discharges are well below permitted limits.
Columbia Falls accepted the American Public Works Association Exceptional Performance Award May 4 for its 2025 wastewater treatment plant modernization, and city staff said the upgraded system is substantially outperforming permitted nutrient limits.
"Since coming online October 2025, the enhanced system has dramatically improved performance, increasing nitrogen removal by 70 to 75% while maintaining exceptionally low phosphorus levels," the city manager told the council. He said the plant’s permanent discharge limit for nitrogen is 37.1 pounds per day and the city is currently averaging about 6 pounds per day; phosphorus permanent limit is 4.6 pounds per day and the current average is about 0.76 pounds per day.
City staff credited coordinated work with HDR Engineering and Prospect Construction Inc. for completing the upgrade on budget and schedule, and said the improved nutrient removal helps protect the Flathead River by reducing residual nutrients in reclaimed wastewater.
The presentation noted the upgrade moved the plant from a three-stage to a five-stage process and that testing has exceeded initial expectations. The council acknowledged the award and offered informal commendations to the public-works team.
The council did not take formal action on the award itself; the presentation served as recognition and as background for upcoming budget and capital discussions.
