Regional Water Project Results From Multiple Regional Water Challenges

Interest in a regional water system resulted from repeated water shortages and water quality challenges throughout the north-central region of Montana. The Rocky Boy’s / North Central Montana Regional Water System, as authorized by Congress, is intended to address the water quantity and quality challenges of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and numerous off-reservation communities, water districts, and other water utilities represented by the NCMRWA. In early 2006, the team of KL&J/AE2S was selected by the NCMRWA to provide assistance in addressing the challenges of creating a large regional water system.

Committing to A Regional Water System

In order for the North Central Montana Regional Water System to realize its full potential, the project team recognized early on that it was essential that all interested communities, water districts, and other water utilities commit themselves to the project. The KL&J/AE2S project team worked side by side with the representatives of the NCMRWA to develop a strategy to educate the interested parties on the benefits of being part of a regional water system. The strategy focused on educating potential members on the impacts of becoming part of a regional system, including such topics as the impact of current and future water quality challenges, the benefits of reduced capital and operation and maintenance costs from a large user base, user rate impacts of the regional system in comparison to an independent water system, and the economic development opportunities of being part of a reliable regional water supply system.

Commitment to Service and Intense User Education Pays Big Dividends

Upon being selected by the NCMRWA, the KL&J/AE2S team immediately went to work on securing commitments from prospective member entities. In February 2006, the project team was brought onboard by the NCMRWA and tasked with securing user commitments from all nineteen prospective member entities by mid summer of 2006. Due to our commitment to meet and exceed our client’s expectations, we developed an intense framework of repeated public information meetings. Over a four month period, our dedicated staff had met with prospective member entities over forty times to provide the information allowing these utilities to make an informed decision regarding participation in the regional system. Due to these efforts, 23 water utilities have voted to become members of the NCRMWA, demonstrating an increased level of participation in the project. As a result, the project is successfully on track and ready to move into the design phases and set to begin construction in the coming years.