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Why Fairfield, Montana, Is Running Out of Water
Officials say the town loses about half its pumped water as leaking pipes and dry wells threaten summer supply for residents and farmers.
- Fairfield faces a severe water shortage as aging infrastructure falters, with three of the town's eight wells nonoperational and officials warning capacity could drop to 250 gallons per minute.
- Nearly two-thirds of the town's pipes were installed in 1946, prompting the Fairfield Town Council last week to allocate funds for plumbing upgrades, increase water rates, and limit non-essential usage.
- The surrounding Sun River Project, supporting roughly 550 farmers and ranchers across 93,000 acres, faces a parallel shortage; due to dismal snowpack, these producers expect to receive 25% less water.
- Residents are adjusting to new restrictions, with longtime local Christi Hardin saying she will not plant crops this summer, while Ken Naylor bemoaned another year away from his garden.
- Replacing failing infrastructure—some 80 to 110 years old—will take decades and millions of dollars, Greenfields Irrigation District Manager Erling Juel warns, as he holds back water to brace for shortages.
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17 Articles
17 Articles
Bozeman Daily Chronicle+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
'This year is worse': Why a Montana city is running out of water
A combination of failing, decades-old infrastructure and a worsening regional drought is straining the water supply of local farmers and residents.
·Cherokee County, United States
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
L 25%
C 75%
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