Montana Success Stories
Capacity building leads to compliance
Where: The Worden Ballantine Yellowstone County Water and Sewer District, a rural town located in south central Montana.
Problem: Compliance and capacity building issues related to drinking water regulations, technical, managerial and financial operation and maintenance of the community’s water system.
Solution: MAP provided financial, managerial and operational training and technical assistance to the board and the system operator.
Worden/Ballantine has a population of 506 residents, is totally surrounded by farmland and is one of the biggest growers for Coors Malt Barley, corn and sugar beets in Yellowstone County.
To ensure the community operates and maintains their water system and complies with the Safe Drinking Water Act, MAP staff provided technical assistance to the board and operator including a rules and regulations manual, a daily, weekly, and monthly activity log, rate studies and increase procedures, and manuals about board communication and responsibilities.
Additionally, MAP staff provided the district with a policy manual for tapping and impact fees, including examples of and the difference between the two, how they apply to the particular situation and relevant requirements as stated in Montana law. MAP staff assisted in helping the system with a backup operator by providing study guides, assisted with review of policy and procedures manual and helped set up a delinquency policy.
MAP’s involvement in the community of Worden/Ballantine resulted in a district board that runs more efficiently. Delinquent accounts declined from 56 monthly to only 8 a month. Communication between the board and the operator has improved due to daily reporting and each understanding their respective roles and responsibilities. The board now conducts a yearly budget and rate review and reviews a portion of the rules and regulation manual at each meeting.
For more information, contact:
Phone: 952-758-4334
Fax: 952-758-4336
E-mail: map@map-inc.org
MAP is a member of the RCAP network and an equal-opportunity lender, provider and employer.