Laurel outlook., 1950-08-02
Observation-Disclosures iiiihhiihiithifihiiis
. Board Of Health
Montana State Board of Health:
Helena, Montana
|: Elton M. Andrew, Director
|: Food and Drug Division

,a''Hsrn''tbVitipilii OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES i.s
The Correction of Stream
Pollution in Montana
The state board of health is
authorized by law to develop and
conduct programs designed to
eliminate and improve the sanitary
conditions of our waters in Mon
tana. The board of health is pri-
marily concerned with the problem
of pollution in as much as it may
affect domestic water supplies.
The interest of the state board
Of health in corrective (abatement)
OF stream pollution in Montana
has been broadened by public law
$40 which was passed by the
Eightieth congress. This law pro-
vides for the pollution abatement
OF interstate waters. The federal
law also considers all water uses.
The Montana state law authorized
cooperation with the federal gov
eminent in carrying out the pro-
visions of public law S45.
The first financial grant to Mon.
tana was received in September of
last year. Since that time a more
concentrated program than that
which has been carried on here
tofore has been planned and started
III stream pollution study and
abatement. Additional personnel
and equipment have been obtained.
In cooperation with the U. S. pub
lie health service, surveys of those
portions of the Missouri river basin
and the Columbia river basin which
lie in Montana have been made.
These surveys were undertaken
with the objective of discovering
all the sources of pollution in
Montana and to provide the basis
for adequate planning in stream
pollution abatement program.
The program is concerned with
two types of wastes which enter
our streams, namely, domestic sew
%gc and industrial wastes. Con-
siderable study has been done on
both types, but there is a consid-
cradle amount yet to. be done.
There ire in Montana certain pol
problems which might be
termed critical, however, when we
compare problems with the
problems confronting some of the
industrialized states of the
east, ouf problems are not so
acute.
During the past year, eight do
nestle sewage treatment plants |
lave been completed or we're placed |
lnder construction. Of these eight |
four are secondary treat
nent plants, located at Dutton,
Harlem, Ekalaka, and Chinook.
The remaining four plants are
primary plants, located at Boze-
nan, Laurel, Billings, and Havre.
treatment plants are also
coated at Lewistown, Kalispell,
md Culbertson. This makes a total
# eleven modern sewage treating
in operation or under con-
truction in Montana.
Small Montana communities,
hose with population up to 1000
tend to consider as more |
daptable to their needs the small |
package" type of activated sludge |
liant. These plants meet the re-
uirements and problems of the |
mall communities.
In many cases, particularly in
ne larger communities, primary
reatment provides the desired
mount of treatment because they
re located on streams which pro-
ide a large dilution factor with
efficient oxygen present in the
Progress has been made in the
'eatment of industrial wastes in
Iontana. Industrial leaders of the
ate have Incorporated modern
nd proven methods of waste dis
0sal. These methods are partics-
rly noticeable in the metallurgi-
Il and oil refining industries. Ex-
,llent cooperation has been OBJ
lined between the state board of
salth and the various Montana
dustries. u