Havre Bulk Water Station still down

Havre's Bulk Water Station is still down after months of non-operation as Havre Public Works continues to explore solutions to ongoing issues with the station's electronics, installed in 2022.

Havre Public Works Director Trevor Mork said people looking to get bulk water should go to the City Shop Complex Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., as he does not have an estimate on when the issues at the Bulk Water Station will be fixed.

Mork said the electronics system and card reader at the station started having technical issues almost as soon as it was installed.

He said the same system has been installed at similar water stations around the area and has consistently had problems like theirs, including the one in Chinook which he heard has had problems since it was installed three years ago.

When asked why Havre chose this system given that it has seen issues in other places in the Hi-Line area, he said that the decision was made before his time so he can't comment on the rationale.

Mork said there are a number of potential issues with the system, but he's not sure which factor is the most causal in its ongoing malfunctions.

He said they are looking to replace the system with a new one and are looking into a manufacturer in Canada that may well be able to make a better system, but he wants to be absolutely sure that a situation like this doesn't happen again, so they are doing as much due diligence as possible.

The other issue, he said, is how to pay for it.

Mork said the Bulk Water Station is funded by the ratepayers who use it - people who do not live in the city of Havre - and he cannot justify paying for the new system with city money, which is intended for priority projects in Havre itself.

He said the last rate increase at the bulk water station was necessary to bring the cost of water production and the revenue from selling that water into line, but it was still controversial and he doesn't want to raise that rate again to pay for the change either.

At this point, he said, they are still trying to find a way to pay for the new system and that will take time.

In the meantime, Mork said, people can use the city shop, try another town, or ask Hill County for a more permanent alternative.

"If users are not satisfied with the hours provided, they are more than welcome to go to Kremlin, Chinook or Big Sandy to get bulk water, or consult with the county commissioners on creating a county-based water delivery system," he said.

A press release from Havre Public Works earlier this week also asked people to make sure they provide billing information each time they fill up at the county shop, which has been an issue lately, and may affect their hours if it continues.

"This can be considered as theft of services and we would much rather work with the public on an honor system than have to reduce the hours even more for monitoring," the press release said.

"Thank you all for your patience while we find the right answers to repair the bulk water plant and make it easier for everyone to get the water they need," the release added.