Harlem Waste Water Treatment Plant Upgrade, update

Currently underway in Harlem is a two year, five-million-dollar project to upgrade the waste water treatment plant and transition from a river discharge system to a pivot irrigation system. This process began in 2009, but with two legislation sessions with no resulting funding the project was not able to be completed then. In 2013, the City applied once again, receiving a TSEP grant for $625,000 and after applying to USDA Rural Development they received the remaining funds for the project. Another setback to the project was an engineering firm change.

Once Rural Development confirmed the remainder of the funding was secured, the City put the project out for bid. This past summer, the City hired Century Companies out of Lewistown, and the long awaited first day of construction was September 12.

Because there is only a small window of construction time before the winter, there were set goals to complete. These goals were to construct the new lagoon embankments, upgrade the two lift stations in town, and get some of the pivot piping installed and possibly the pivot itself. The most important of these goals was the construction of the lagoon embankments, as they must be allowed a period of time to settle – winter being the perfect time for this. This project required the movement of massive amounts of dirt, some coming from the Fort Belknap gravel pit southwest of Harlem, and the rest from north of town where the City was able to obtain an open pit permit.

Due to a very wet fall, the contractor was delayed a few weeks, but they were able to fully construct the embankment. The lift station upgrades as well as the pivot piping and installation, however, were pushed to the next construction season.

Construction has now ended for this season, but will be back in progress in April or May.