The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has approved a plan allowing the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club, part of Big Sky Resort, to use treated wastewater for snowmaking, reports Montana Free Press. This initiative will make Big Sky the first public ski area in the state to utilize snow made from reclaimed sewage.
Big Sky Resort plans to use up to 23 million gallons of treated water annually in the initial phase, with an increase to 44 million gallons projected for the second phase. The resort's owner notes that using this recycled water further reduces environmental impact, as the snowmaking process effectively provides a second treatment for the water, and a third natural filtration occurs when the snow melts into the ground.
60 Minutes Reports on Hackers Infiltrating Water Utilities
A recent report on 60 Minutes revealed that Chinese hackers had successfully infiltrated the electric and water utility systems of Littleton, Massachusetts, as part of a wide-ranging campaign against U.S. infrastructure. The general manager of the town's utility provider stated that the FBI notified him in November 2023 that Chinese hackers had breached their network, which controls the chemicals used in the drinking water supply. Luckily, the FBI intervened before the hackers were able to achieve full operational control of the system.
The small town, which has only 10,000 residents, was one of over 200 utilities found to be compromised by the Chinese operation. Other targets included major institutions like the New York City transit authority and gas pipelines.
Watch the full segment below.
Minnesota Officials Launch State’s First Drinking Water Action Plan
Well-known threats such as arsenic, nitrate and lead now compete with newer threats such as PFAS and a dwindling workforce for the attention and resources of those charged with protecting Minnesota’s drinking water. That's why Minnesota now has its first-ever Drinking Water Action Plan, which outlines strategies for protecting drinking water from source to tap over the next 10 years. Officials celebrated the launch of the plan recently at the New Brighton Water Treatment Plant.
At the recommendation of the Clean Water Council, the State Legislature in 2023 directed the Minnesota Department of Health to lead the development of this plan. In doing so, MDH enlisted the help of numerous partners and gathered input through community meetings, surveys and focus group discussions.
The plan includes five broad goals: protect sources of drinking water; establish resilient drinking water infrastructure; ensure safe tap water; anticipate and manage emerging risks; and engage partners.
