The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1955-08-05
Water Report
Submitted by
City Engineer


vey of the present physical plant
of the Browning water system,
william ]. Wenzel, Great Falls
engineer, this week submitted to
Mavor ]. D. Franklin a compre-
hensive report of the available
water supply and the estimated
cost of building an adequate plant
for the development of the sup
ply, storage facilities, and distri-
button system which seemingly
comes within the range of the
Towns ability to finance, and
which is considered by city Off
Gals as most encouraging.
While the total estimated cost
of the completed supply sources
and distribution system is slight
" greater than the proposed
$4,000 bond issue, to be sub
mitted to taX-paying voters at an
early date, it is explained that
by substituting steel pipe for the
higher priced pipe specified in
the estimate, very considerable
amount can be deducted from the
engineers estimate, and that by
making other possible savings,
the Town will be able to finance
the undertaking with the pro-
ceeds of the proposed bond sale.
One of the most important find
ings of the engineers is the re-
port on the water supply, which
when properly developed, will be
capable of developing a reserve
of at least twenty billion gallons,
or enough to supply a city of
nearly five thousand people for
an indefinite period. This reserve,
it is thought, will be ample to
take care of all possible water
needs for the town at present and
for the foreseeable future.
The engineers report, stripped
of technical verbage, reveals that
the present distribution system
is in bad state of repair, and
will have to be practically re-
built. The standpipe was badly
damaged by the fire last winter,
and is not being used at present,
the supply coming directly from
the gravity system from the
springs west of town, with an
occasional supplementary source
from the well adjacent to the wat
er tower. While the engineer
makes no reference to the pre-
sence of oil at times in the pre-
sent system, it is believed this
Intrusion results from the use of
the town well near the standpipe.
After summarizing the steps
taken in making the survey and
conducting the drilling opera
tons in testing the water supply,
the engineer sums up his find
ings in brief as follows:
l. The present water supply of
Browning comes from an under
ground deposit, which is evident
ly a glacial fan.
z. Drainage into this gravel fan
is eastward from the Rocky
Mountains, toward Browning.
Drainage area was determined;
II Is at least six square miles.
g. Drainage out of this gravel
ian is blocked by a natural dam
OF low permeability morraines at
its east end.
a. Area of the gravel fan is at
least five square miles, possibly
much more.
D. Depth of the gravel in the
area varies from 10 to % feet.
8. Quantity of water stored in
The gravel is estimated at not less
than 20 billion gallons.
T. A government irrigation pro-
lect, operated by the Indian
Agency at Browning, diverts
water from the south fork of Cut
Bank Creek into this gravel for
nation. This supplements natur-
al drainage into the gravel fan,
and guarantees that as long as
The irrigation project is in opera
uon, water in the gravel can nev-
er be depleted.
3. This gravel formation as
sures an unfailing supply of good
water by gravity for the city of
Browning, in practically any
quantity which can be anticipat-
ed for all time.
9. Existing city wells are inef-
tective for tapping the abundant
water supply in this gravel, be-
cause it will remove only the wat
er that rises almost to the sur
face.
10. No better water source is
evident than the present bounti.
full supply kindly provided by
nature, which needs only to be
led into the city and distributed.
II. The present pipe line into
town is the most feasible loca.
ton.
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