Now For Some Good News: District Awarded $121,273.00 Grant

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

There has been a lot that has happened in the past several weeks. It almost seems surreal, but just before the pandemic, on March 12, 2020 the District did get some great news. It was awarded $121,273.00 through a coal grant we submitted to address the water main break. Once again, board members Bruce Brown and Brent Burton along with McKinstry Account Executive, Tyler Bush assisted me as we presented the Colstrip Water-main Grant Proposal to the Montana Coal Board.

If you remember, on December 11, 2019 Colstrip High School had a water main break outside of the facilities between the municipal water vault and the building where the gymnasium and classroom structure meets on the North side of the high school facilities. The break created a significant amount of damage as the amount of water coming out of the identified pipe not only found its way inside the building from on top of the ground, but also came up through the cement floor and walls and exited into classrooms through electrical outlet boxes. (See photos below). Due to the extenuating circumstances the school district was forced to close school for two days until the break could be repaired. When the water main pipe was excavated and the leak identified, there was significant concern that the pipe was compromised enough through corrosion and time that it could certainly break again at another place between the water vault and the building. The damages to the school district were substantial: the loss of two instructional days as well as over $80,000 worth of damage.

Technically speaking, the original cast iron water main pipe corroded due to high alkalinity in the soils and electrolysis.  It is anticipated that the replacement pipe will be CPVC with cast iron fittings.  Sacrificial anodes will be utilized to reduce corrosion at the fittings.  The sizing of these fittings will be determined following the compilation of a geotechnical report identifying the actual composition of the soils.  Approximately 100 lineal feet of pipe will be replaced from the city’s valve box to the connection inside the footprint of the high school.

We hope to get started on the water-main replacement as soon as possible. We are anticipating the funding early next fall.

This was one of two grants submitted to the Coal Board. The second grant was tabled until the June Meeting. The District feels very fortunate to have received this grant as it offsets funding that can be utilized to address other needs. Once again, thank you #MTCOAL and the Montana Coal Board and Department of Commerce.

Once again, stay safe, stay healthy and until we hear different stay home!