The town overlies the Madison Formation which is a large-area aquifer. The aquifer has a demonstrated capability to produce geothermal water. A system to tap this potential and heat the Haakon School District buildings in Philip has been in operation since November 1980. Eight buildings in the Philip business district utilize geothermal fluid discharged from the school for space heating. The geothermal system has operated nearly problem free with the exception of the equipment to remove Radium-226 from the spent fluid.
Barium chloride is added to the water to precipitate sulfates containing the radium.
Accumulation of precipitates in piping has caused some operational problems. Fluid discharged from the schools and armory is then used for space heating of buildings in the Philip business district. Eight buildings are currently connected to this system. Spent geothermal fluid is treated for Radium-226 removal prior to disposal in the Bad River. A flow diagram for the system is shown in Figure 1.