Flathead County homeowners can now apply to install a gravity septic system for the first time since 2004.  

The change comes after Flathead County commissioners unanimously approved on March 17 updating the county’s septic regulations to fall more in line with state standards. The vote took place after a lengthy discussion and hearing concerns from public commenters about the potential effect of gravity systems on local water quality.  

Flathead City-County Health Department Board Chair Don Barnhart asked county commissioners to consider sending the document back to the health board for further workshopping. He was the only member of the health board last month to vote against the regulation changes. 

Barnhart said the health board began the 18-month process of updating the regulations to make them easier to understand, which could help the county’s Environmental Health office work through requests, but worries about the potential negative effect on water quality by allowing gravity systems. 

As mayor of Columbia Falls, he said many of the city council members were against the change and referenced a recent discussion with the Kalispell City Council, which also voiced concerns.  

“I believe that this is a very good update, except for the fact that we're reverting back to 2004 in our attempt to protect what we have, which is our precious water in the valley,” Barnhart said. “We have 150 bodies of surface water in our valley and 50,000 septic systems in this area. The rules are so much different than what you would see if you were anywhere else. Our soils are different and we have so much water.”  

In 2004, health officials worked to change septic regulations after determining that the county’s large amount of surface water required a higher level of treatment.  

Gravity systems typically move sewage through pipes to a drainfield, where it flows with the help of gravity. The sewage ends up in a graveled trench, eventually reaching the surrounding soil, where bacteria and other microbes treat the wastewater by removing pathogens.    

Uniform pressure septic systems work in a similar way but use a pump — outperforming gravity-flow systems because distribution is more uniform, controlled and can be used in any application, according to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and pressure systems should be the “method of choice whenever possible.”    

The recommendation to use pressurized septic systems by the state agency was mentioned several times in public comments opposing the change. 

Public comment tipped heavily in opposition to gravity systems. The county received 78 public comments in opposition, 40 public comments were in favor of amending the deviation process to allow gravity systems with some restrictions and three comments were made in favor of allowing gravity systems.  

Citizens for a Better Flathead Executive Director Mayre Flowers has been outspoken about the group’s opposition to the changes. She brought commissioners a copy of the Flathead-Stillwater Watershed Restoration Plan from 2017, which provides a guideline to reduce nutrient pollution in the region.  

“The report indicates that nonpoint source pollution, particularly from septic systems, remains a primary driver of nutrient loading that hasn't been effectively curtailed. The advantage of a uniform pressure dose system addresses this, while gravity systems contribute to nutrient loading that exceeds mandated limits under the Stillwater plan,” Flowers said.  

Nonpoint source pollution results from land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage or hydrologic modification, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  

The watchdog group requested that if the commissioners wanted to include gravity systems in the regulations, they do so by amending the deviation request process to allow for new installations.  

There has been an ongoing conversation about whether the county previously allowed gravity systems through a deviation request. However, David Randall, a deputy county attorney, said during Tuesday’s meeting that the deviation for gravity systems only applied to replacements, not new installations.    

Flowers said she was disappointed with the results of Tuesday’s county commissioner meeting.  

“While this seems like they're making a minor change to standards that affect water quality, it’s going to take hundreds of minor corrections to improve water quality,” she said.  

Commissioner Pam Holmquist, who serves as a member of the health board, said the purpose of allowing gravity-fed systems is just to provide another option — one that is usually cheaper and can be used in off-grid situations.  

“We're not saying that everybody should have a gravity system. We're just saying it's an option, it's a tool, and DEQ says pressurized systems are a preferred option, so we left that in there. But there are areas that could benefit from gravity on a case-by-case basis,” Holmquist said.  

Holmquist maintained that the county wouldn’t see a large influx of applications for gravity septic systems. She also dismissed concerns that the change would affect water quality, adding that if a system is installed and maintained properly, it would “do its job.”  

As someone who has installed septic systems, Commissioner Brad Abell said he doesn’t see an issue with providing the option of a gravity system.  

“I have put in four of these, not nearly as many as you gentlemen have," Abell said, referring to others in the audience. “And I have a gravity system in my own house that was put in before I came there. I haven't had any problems with my gravity system, and it's over 30 years old.” 

Holmquist has previously said that getting a permit for a gravity-fed system will require the same standards as any other septic system, and that “the health department will do everything up to standards when it comes to installations.”  

At Tuesday’s meeting, she said the regulations are “living documents that are up for discussion and can be changed at any time.” And added that revisiting the documents more frequently will ensure a shorter approval process.  

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.