Resident Resources
Simple things you can do to save water, protect the sewer system, and stay informed — plus PFAS information.
Use water wisely
Save water — indoors and out
Conserving water lowers your bill, eases demand on the system, and helps protect our source. Small habits add up.
Indoors
- Install WaterSense low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets
- Run dishwashers and laundry only when full
- Turn off the tap while brushing or scrubbing
- Keep a pitcher in the fridge instead of running the tap cold
Outdoors
- Water early morning or evening to cut evaporation
- Follow any watering-day advisory in effect
- Use drip irrigation and mulch beds
- Choose drought-tolerant, native plantings
Why it matters here
The district's rates use inclining blocks, so heavy outdoor use costs more per gallon. Cutting peak-season use keeps your bill down and helps the district defer costly capacity upgrades.
See how usage is billed →Protect the sewer
What not to flush or pour down the drain
Only the "3 P's" belong in the toilet: pee, poop, and (toilet) paper. Everything else causes clogs, backups, and expensive damage to the collection system and treatment plant.
Never flush
- "Flushable" or baby wipes (they don't break down)
- Paper towels, tissues, cotton swabs, floss
- Diapers, feminine products
- Medications (take to a drug take-back)
- Grease, fats, and cooking oils
Down the drain? Avoid
- Cooking grease — let it cool and throw it in the trash
- Paint, solvents, and harsh chemicals
- Coffee grounds and eggshells
- Anything labeled hazardous
FOG = Fats, Oils, and Grease. Even small amounts build up in pipes and cause sewer backups — into your home and your neighbors'. Scrape plates and pans into the trash and wipe greasy cookware before washing.
Where your water comes from — and goes
Protect your drinking water and the river
Here, water moves in a loop. It's pumped from a well in the local aquifer, delivered to your home, and — after you've used it — carried to the district's treatment facility. Once treated, that water returns to the ground, recharging the same aquifer that feeds the Blackfoot River. The water you drink and the water you send down the drain are part of one connected system. Keeping it clean protects your own tap, your neighbors', and the river.
1 · Well
Your drinking water starts as groundwater, drawn from a well in the local aquifer.
2 · Home
It's delivered to your tap for drinking, cooking, and washing.
3 · Treatment
After use, it flows to the district's wastewater facility, where it's cleaned.
4 · Back to the ground & river
Treated water returns to the aquifer and, over time, to the Blackfoot River — the same source we all depend on.
What you can do
Because it's a closed local loop, what goes down your drains and onto your land can find its way back to the water we drink and the river we love. A few habits protect both:
- Take medications, paint, solvents, motor oil, and harsh chemicals to proper drop-off sites — never down the drain or onto the ground.
- Go easy on lawn and garden fertilizers and pesticides; the excess washes into the aquifer and river.
- Pick up pet waste and keep it out of ditches and storm drains.
- Never pour anything into a storm drain — many lead straight to the river, untreated.
- Report spills, dumping, or anything unusual in a ditch or the river to the district.
Protecting the aquifer and the Blackfoot River isn't just good stewardship — it's protecting the source of your own drinking water.
Stop hidden waste
Check for leaks
A silent toilet leak can waste hundreds of gallons a day and quietly inflate your bill. Two quick checks:
Toilet dye test
Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait 10–15 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, the flapper is leaking — an easy, cheap fix.
Meter test
Turn off all water in the house, then check your meter. If it's still moving, water is escaping somewhere between the meter and your fixtures.
Think you have a leak?
If your bill jumps with no change in habits, or you hear running water with everything off, check the toilet first, then call the office. If water is surfacing in the yard or street on the district's side of the meter, report it right away.
Report a leakMontana winters
Protect your pipes from freezing
Before the freeze
- Insulate pipes in crawlspaces, garages, and exterior walls
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses; shut off outdoor spigots
- Know where your main shutoff valve is
During a cold snap
- Let a pencil-thin trickle run from a faucet on the coldest nights
- Open cabinet doors to let warm air reach pipes
- Keep the heat on if you travel
If a pipe freezes
- Shut off the main valve
- Thaw gently with warm towels or a hair dryer — never an open flame
- Call a plumber for burst pipes, and the district if you suspect a service-line issue
Emerging contaminants
PFAS — "forever chemicals" explained
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of human-made chemicals used since the 1940s in nonstick, stain-resistant, and waterproof products. They're called "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly and can build up over time.
Why the district monitors PFAS
The U.S. EPA has set national drinking-water limits for certain PFAS. The district follows state and federal requirements for monitoring and, if needed, treatment — and has adopted a PFAS policy and source-control measures to keep these compounds out of the water and wastewater systems.
Read the PFAS policy →What you can do at home
- Choose PFAS-free cookware and food packaging when you can
- Look for "PFAS-free" labels on stain- and water-repellent products
- Never pour PFAS-containing products down the drain
- If you use a home filter, choose one certified to reduce PFAS
Common questions
Is my water safe to drink?
The district tests its water to meet state and federal standards, including applicable PFAS limits, and publishes results in the annual Consumer Confidence Report. See the latest results on the Notices page, or contact the office with questions.
Where do PFAS come from?
Everyday sources include nonstick cookware, grease-resistant food packaging, stain- and water-repellent fabrics, some cosmetics, and certain firefighting foams. Because they're so widespread, keeping them out of the system is a shared effort.
Do I need to report a PFAS discharge?
Certain businesses and activities that could discharge PFAS to the sewer are required to notify the district. If this may apply to you, review the district's PFAS policy and use the PFAS Discharge Notification Form, or contact the office.
Questions about PFAS or your water quality? Contact the district office at (406) 206-5100 or info@blackfootcrossingwaterandsewer.com.
Want a printable one-page guide?
A plain-language handout covering conservation, what not to flush, and PFAS tips.