Clyde Park reports missed nitrate tests; town plans spring samples and public notice

Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Mills told the Town Council on Feb. 10 that nitrate test samples for the town’s water system were not submitted for 2024, leaving the town in regulatory non-compliance.

Mills read the water report prepared by Council member Brian Eckenrod, which also described routine operations such as chlorine restocking and sensor calibrations. According to the report, the missed samples resulted from miscommunication during staff changes. Council member Eckenrod has been in contact with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and said the town will take reservoir samples in spring and submit them to the state lab.

The council noted that the town will remain in violation until the samples are submitted and processed. Mills said staff plan to notify the public of the violation in June; Eckenrod said he would aim to have new samples submitted before that date so the town can inform residents it is back in compliance.

Why it matters: Nitrate monitoring is a routine public-health requirement for community water systems. A lapse in required sampling creates a compliance issue and a risk that contaminants could go undetected; the council recorded steps to remedy the lapse and to provide public notice.

What’s next: Council member Eckenrod will work with DEQ and town staff to collect and submit the reservoir and well samples this spring. The council did not set a separate deadline beyond the planned spring sampling and the June public notice referenced by Mills.

Provenance: Topic introduced in SEG 022 and continued through SEG 024.