We are writing this letter in response to the concerns expressed by our neighbors and other residents in the valley. Hopefully we can clarify some of the misunderstanding and misinformation that is being disseminated and put your minds to rest. As most of you know, we are planning to bottle artesian water from a well on our property. This endeavor is not something we recently decided to undertake but rather, has been a long-time family plan. Prior to beginning operations, we are required to obtain numerous permits and approvals from both the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). As you have read and heard in various media broadcasts, we are currently in the process of obtaining those permits, which has proven to be a laborious process with layers of review.
In general, the reporting of our water-bottling plans has been informative and objective, but upon occasion there has been some erroneous statements made. Therefore, the purpose of this letter is to clarify the misinformation that appears to be circulating and provide a better understanding of our planned operations. First, we are using well water from the deep artesian aquifer and not surface water from Egan Slough as has been reported. The groundwater is of excellent quality and for this reason makes it a desirable product because of its inherently good taste. Many of the chemicals such as calcium, magnesium, fluoride, and bicarbonate in the water are required in our diet.
One article recently reported that bottling operations would discharge chemical-laden water to an unnamed tributary of the Flathead River. This statement was incorrectly interpreted and subsequently reported. Water utilized for bottle rinsing is the same water that will be used to fill bottles. The water has been filtered and treated with ultraviolet light to prevent bacterial growth. None of the chemicals identified in that article (i.e. chloride, nitrate, nitrite, and sulfate) will be in the bottle-rinse water above the concentrations that naturally occur in the groundwater source. We are currently applying for a Montana Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit from Montana DEQ. The discharge permit will have specific limitations on the level of suspended solids, pH, and other parameters of the discharge water. Montana Artesian Water Company will comply with the permit requirements to meet or perform better than the specified limitations.
Another concern has been the discharge of geothermal heating water to the unnamed tributary of the Flathead River. Water utilized for heating of the bottling facility is derived from the same source used for bottling water. The water is sent through a noncontact heat exchanger that derives heat from the groundwater and used to heat the building. The water discharged to the unnamed tributary is about seven degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the natural groundwater temperature, which is approximately 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
We also recognize the volume of water requested is a significant amount. However, given the arduous process of obtaining a water right, we decided that requesting a volume of water large enough to satisfy potential future demands was prudent. The volume of water requested will certainly not make us the largest water user in the valley. Most irrigation wells in the valley pump more groundwater annually than we propose to divert. The majority of that water is consumed by different crops that are sold both in state and out of state for profit.
Lew and Larel Weaver live in Creston.