Tester Secures More Than $650,000 for Wastewater System Improvements in Missoula County

Funding provided by the Water Resources Development Act to bolster water infrastructure in Missoula’s Buena Vista Community

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that Missoula County will receive a grant of $654,000 in Water Resources Development Act funds for improvements to the Buena Vista Community’s wastewater disposal system.

“No matter where you live in Montana, reliable water and wastewater systems are critical to our communities,” said Tester. “This investment will give residents of the Buena Vista Community peace of mind knowing their water is safe to drink while helping the community become more efficient and sustainable in the long term.”

This funding will help the Buena Vista Community in Missoula County complete Phase 2 improvements to their wastewater system, including reclaiming and restoring settling pits that were rendered obsolete by Phase 1 improvements to a condition that more closely resembles the draw’s natural state. These improvements present a sustainable short and long-term solution for the community, reducing health risk and water loss, as well as reducing the overall money spent by Missoula County on rehabilitation projects for the Buena Vista Community.

Tester has worked diligently to maintain Montana’s water quality and to provide vital public infrastructure projects with the funding needed to stay up-to-date. He recently secured $7 million for Hardin to make improvements to their wastewater system, and $335,000 for Wolf Point and $533,000 for Scobey to update outdated water mains. He secured nearly $3 million for Whitehall, Sweet Grass County, Whitefish, Cascade County, Seeley Lake, Sanders County, and Toole County. Additionally, he secured an additional $2 million to make upgrades to Geraldine’s water system.