WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today secured $9.5 million in funding for Montana water projects in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

“Unfortunately, in many parts of rural Montana, having clean drinking water makes you the exception not the rule,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.  “That’s why I’ve proudly worked side-by-side with Montana tribes and organizations to find a cooperative solution to providing a safe water supply to each and every community in our state.  I’m happy to say today I secured additional funding to move these projects forward.”

The Energy and Water Appropriations bill includes $5 million for the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Regional Water System which will provide 7.3 percent of Montana’s land base with a cost-effective, high-quality water source. Once completed, the water system will serve more than 30,000 people on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and in north-central Montana.  The funds will be used for the design and construction of the intake and water treatment plant as well as placement of additional pipelines.  Residents affected by the system include the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and the residents residing in Chouteau, Glacier, Hill Liberty, Pondera, Teton, and Toole Counties.

It also includes $4 million for the the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water System which was authorized by Congress in 2000 and when completed, it will serve over 30,000 residents in northeastern Montana and on the Fort Peck Reservation.  The funds will be used to further construction of the water treatment plant and allow for continued placement of water delivery lines.

Finally, the legislation includes $500,000 for the St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Project located in western Glacier County as well as language encouraging the Bureau of Reclamation to resume project authority in turn streamlining future funding for project construction.  The 100-year old facilities provide water for 17,000 residents and 140,000 irrigated acres in Montana.  The system is used by the municipal water supplies of cities such as Havre, Chinook and Harlem, and is also a source of water for fish and wildlife.

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