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Montana town hurries to replace failing water tank

By The Associated Press

Story Created: Mar 9, 2010 at 7:33 AM MST

Story Updated: Mar 9, 2010 at 7:33 AM MST

BELT - The tank that supplies water to the roughly 600 residents of the tiny Montana town of Belt is failing, and city leaders are scrambling for a fix.

Belt water and wastewater operator Robin Franzen says the 180,000 gallon tank is leaking so badly that huge ice formations are visible on its outer walls, and steel reinforcement bars once inside the concrete are now exposed.

Lyle Meeks, an engineer with NCI Engineering of Great Falls, says the tank is going to fail, perhaps catastrophically. He says a replacement could cost $1.2 million, but said the price may be trimmed to make it more affordable for residents.

Belt missed out on $38 million in federal stimulus funding earmarked for water and sewer projects in Montana.

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