eLABorations

Montana Environmental Laboratory Newsletter

Updates from the MT Laboratory Services Bureau
800-821-7284
Lab Website

October, 2024

The Montana State Environmental Laboratory, is an EPA Region 8 certified laboratory, performing private well testing and Public Water Supply testing for many families, schools, cities, and towns across Montana.  We work closely with State and County health officials, and Tribal Governments, in responding to water emergencies throughout the state. The Montana State Environmental Laboratory is certified to perform Metals, Nutrient, Organic, Inorganic, and Microbiological testing on water and wastewater. We routinely work with private landowners as well as local, state, and federal programs providing testing services to characterize Montana water for the beneficial use of our citizens.

News and Updates

Water Testing

• Public Water Supplies

  • This is the second year of the three-year compliance period. Please check what analyses are still required for your system.  All sampling must be completed by 12/31/2025. Are you going to wait to sample until next year? If not, please call us for bottles or if you have any questions.

  • Those of you who haven’t submitted manganese samples to us, time is running out. All the sample bottles for each system have been mailed to the Administrative Contact listed on the DEQ website. If your system hasn’t received any bottle(s), please contact us. DEQ will run compliance after the December 31, 2024, required sampling timeframe.

  • All PWS information can be found here. 

Water School

• The Natural Water Cycle

  • Earth's water is always in movement, and the natural water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over millions of years.

  • This diagram is a small part of USGS's Water Science School, where anyone of any age can learn all about water. It is also available in PDF format at https://www.usgs.gov/media/files/natural-water-cycle-pdf.

• USGS Benchmark Glacier Project

  • Mountain glaciers are dynamic reservoirs of frozen water closely coupled to ecosystems and climate. Glacier change in North America has major socioeconomic impacts, including global sea level change, tourism disruption, natural hazard risk, fishery effects, and water resource alteration. Understanding and quantifying precise connections between glaciers and climate is critical to decision makers, land managers, and the public, who are affected by these consequences of glacier change. The USGS Glaciers and Climate Project is aimed at solving complex scientific problems in snow and ice across North America to promote enhanced monitoring, analysis, and prediction of mountain glacier change. Utilizing expertise across USGS, this project combines legacy glacier monitoring with contemporary methods to reveal glacier-climate insight and deliver relevant, actionable science. 

  • For details about this study: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-research-and-development-program/science/glaciers-and-climate-project

  • For specific information about Sperry Glacier in Montana showing the glacier extent from 1950 to 2014:  https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-research-and-development-program/science/sperry-glacier

MRWS Conference

• Upcoming Conference: MRWS 45th Technical Conference and Exhibition March 12-14th, 2025- Heritage Inn, Great Falls.

  • The Montana Rural Water Systems (MRWS) Technical Conference and Exhibition is a 3-day event attended by Montana rural water and wastewater system operators and various vendors including private companies and several state agencies.

  • Certified water and wastewater system operators can attend classes for continuing education credit for the maintenance of their certification and licensure to conduct water and wastewater operations at public facilities in Montana. Non-certified water system operators can attend classes and take the State Operator Certification Exams.

  • There is large exhibitor presence which allows water operators to interact with private companies as well as state agencies involved in water quality, water testing, certification, and water policies.

  • The MRWS provides a valuable opportunity to connect with private laboratories and discuss Laboratory Certification processes. This networking time is essential for building strong relationships within the industry.

Kim Newman and Jill Cohenour attending the MRWS 44th Technical Conference and Exhibition in Great Falls, Montana, March 20-22, 2024.

Reminders:

• Upcoming Montana State Environmental Lab Closures:

  • Columbus Day: October 14th, 2024 (Monday)

  • Veterans Day: November 11th, 2024 (Monday)

  • Thanks Giving: November 28th, 2024 (Thursday)

  • Christmas: December 25th, 2024 (Wednesday)

  • New Years Day: January 1st, 2025 (Wednesday) 

• Courier Service

  • The State Environmental Laboratory has a free courier service for water samples. Samples dropped off before the courier pick up time will reach the lab at 7:00 AM the following day. Samples delivered to the pickup location after the pick-up time will not reach the lab for two days. We recommend getting your samples to the drop off point one hour before the pick-up time. All total coliform samples must be to the lab within 30 hours of collection. HPC samples should be received within 24 hours of collection. Please keep this in mind when taking your samples. Please click here for our full courier schedule.

• Previous eLABorations Newsletters

  • All previous eLABorations newsletters can be found on our website on the column on the left hand side by selecting "Environmental Laboratory Newsletter". Here is the link to all our previous eLABorations newsletter.