Chester Water System

RATES

New Base Rate. Effective as of the July 2026 billing.

The new Base Rate will be $44.29 per EDU, as follows:

In-Town Rates

Meter Size	Base Rate per EDU	EDUs	Base Rate by Meter Size
5/8” or ¾” or full ¾” port meters	$44.29	1.00	$ 44.29
1”	$44.29	1.40	$62.01
1 ½”	$44.29	3.20	$141.74
2”	$44.29	5.70	$252.48
3”	$44.29	12.80	$566.96
4”	$44.29	22.80	$1,009.89
6”	$44.29	51.20	$2,267.82

Out-of-Town Rates

Meter Size	Base Rate per EDU	EDUs		Base Rate by Meter Size		Additional of fee	Total Base Rate by Meter Size
5/8” or ¾”	$44.29	1.00		$44.29		$20.25	$64.54
1”	$44.29	1.40		$62.01		$20.25	$82.26
1 ½”	$44.29	3.20		$141.74		$20.25	$161.99
2”	$44.29	5.70		$252.48		$20.25	$272.73
Usage Fee. The new Usage Fee will be $3.38 per 1,000 gallons of water or portion thereof used per user category per month (the “Usage Fee”) as shown below:
Category					Usage Fee
In-Town EDU Base Rate					$3.38 per 1,000 gallons
In-Town 2nd Meter					$3.38 per 1,000 gallons
Out-of-Town EDU Base Rate					$3.38 per 1,000 gallons
Raw Water Irrigation Base Rate					$2.16 per 1,000 gallons
Rural w/Easement EDU Base Rate					$3.38 per 1,000 gallons over 5,000 gallons
Rural No Easement EDU Base Rate					$3.38 per 1,000 gallons
New Monthly Charge. The new Monthly Charge is equal to the new Base Rate plus the new Usage Fee.
Bulk Rate. Effective as of the July 2026 billing, the Bulk Rate will be $12.00 per 1,000 gallons of water or portion thereof. Reconnect Fee; Late Fee; NSF Check Charge. Effective as of the July 2026 billing, the Reconnect Fee will be $200 and the NSF Check Charge will be $30.00. In addition, the Late Fee will change from a fixed charge of $5.00 to charging a delinquent customer a Late Fee of 5.00% of the invoice. Increase to Monthly Charge. The new Monthly Charge will increase by 2% for each of the next two years, commencing with the July 2027 billing and again with the July 2028 billing. Thus, for illustrative purposes only, for an in-Town user with a 3/4” meter size, such user’s (i) Base Rate would increase to $45.18 in July 2027 and for the ensuing year and to $46.08 in July 2028 and for the ensuing year, and (ii) the Usage Fee would increase to $3.45 per 1,000 gallons in July 2027 and for the ensuing year and to $3.52 per 1,000 gallons in July 2028 and for the ensuing year.
			Phone number: 406-759-5635 Email: townofchester@itstriangle.com Website: www.chester-montana.com

water system policy and regulations

ANNUAL WATER QUALITY REPORT

HISTORY

For over 60 years, Chester has received its water by its own system of water intakes at Tiber Reservoir, 20 miles of pipeline to Town, and water treatment plant. Chester’s water system users (you) pay for the costs of operation, maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and employees by your water bills.

Chester’s water system is aging. The Town’s engineer estimates that the cost of work needed is around $896,406/year spread over several years not accounting for inflation to keep it operational, reliable, and compliant with State and Federal regulations.

NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY

In 1999, the Federal Government settled a lawsuit with the Chippewa Cree Tribe that resulted in the funding and oversight of a Water Treatment Plant at Tiber Reservoir and infrastructure that supplied drinking water to the Rocky Boy Reservation (the “Core System). The NCMRWA was formed by its members as an interlocal or “co-op” to connect to the WTP to supply water to its members like Havre, Loma, and other members in the region (the “Non-Core System.”)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

he Town of Chester is considering whether to continue using its current Tiber Reservoir intake, pipeline to Chester, and treatment plant or become a member of NCMRWA which would pipe water to the Town via NCMRWA’s own system.

Either option requires significant financial commitment from all of us and will affect us for at least 50 years.