Montana

Water Infrastructure Asset Management
Montana
Intro

Montana provides numerous trainings and avenues for assistance implementing asset management plans. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Public Water Supply is making efforts to provide more funding and assistance in these areas

MentorAPM in
Montana

MentorAPM makes reporting on asset criticality and the current state of your assets easy for submitting updated asset management plans to your state department.

Did you know

The state has the largest undammed river in the United States, the Yellowstone River, which is 1,114 kilometers long and flows from Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming to Montana.

Opportunities and Obligations

State Asset Management

Funding

  • The PWS Capacity Development Coordinator will manage a new DWSRF program that includes AM assistance.

Regulatory

  • Self-assessment forms now include questions on AM and are provided to systems. Significant unresolved deficiencies will prompt sanitary survey inspectors to verify if an AM plan is in place, provide access to the self-assessment form, and reference capacity development resources in the final sanitary survey letter.

Assistance

  • Asset management planning is emphasized in training events. Approved providers provide asset management training for The Operator Certification Program. Technical assistance providers are encouraged to get additional training in asset management. To become a preferred technical assistance provider for asset management training, technical assistance providers must complete additional AM training.
  • Capacity development and AM is presented at annual conferences by approved technical assistance providers, private consultants, and The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Public Water Supply; this aims to keep Montana’s systems and strategies current and solicit public input.
  • AM planning is promoted by technical assistance through field visits and annual trainings. The MDEQ Public Water Supply field staff discuss AM and capacity development with the PWS; they are referred to the Capacity Development Coordinator for further assistance.
  • MDEQ is developing a Capacity Development resource webpage that stresses asset management. Systems will be able to share their AM plans to obtain professional review and guidance.
  • The Capacity Development Self-Assessment form incorporates AM questions. Self-assessments are available through technical assistance visits, sanitary surveys, and other routine activities. Systems with an ETT score >10 will be provided with the self-assessment form.

Other

  • Infrastructure projects in Montana are funded through State and Federal programs.  State funding programs include the Montana Coal Endowment Program, Montana DNRC-RRGL program, Community Development Block Grants, Montana Coal Board and the State SRF programs for Water and Wastewater.  Federal options include USDA Rural Development.  The ARPA program is nearing its completion.  To get more information, a community can contact the Montana Department of Commerce for the MCEP, Coal Board and CDBG programs and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for the RRGL program.

Resources

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