Reclaimed Water Snowmaking
At Big Sky Resort, we are proud to launch an innovative and environmentally beneficial program for snowmaking using reclaimed water in partnership with Spanish Peaks Mountain Club. This initiative represents Big Sky's commitment to sustainability and responsible water resource management.
Reclaimed water is recycled water that has undergone advanced treatment at a facility, such as the new state-of-the-art Big Sky Water Resource Recovery Facility.
- It is highly treated to meet strict standards designed to protect human health and the environment.
- It is strictly regulated and permitted by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT DEQ).
- The water is 100% disinfected and sterilized, ensuring it is free of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens.
- Routine sampling is conducted to guarantee its continued safety.
- The snow made from this water is completely safe to ski and recreate on.
This project is the second reclaimed water snowmaking project in Montana, following similar successful projects in states across the country, including Maine, Michigan, and California.
Project Impact and Community Benefits
This project is an essential part of our community's commitment to the beneficial reuse of water resources. It directly supports Big Sky's goal to remain a zero-discharge community, which is the largest such commitment in the state.
By reusing water during the non-irrigation season, the program offers a reuse opportunity that provides an annual net benefit of up to 44 million gallons to the watershed and helps to support the snowpack and augment stream flows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reclaimed water is recycled water that has undergone advanced treatment at a facility, specifically the new state-of-the-art Big Sky Water Resource Recovery Facility.
It is highly treated to meet strict standards designed to protect human health and the environment.
Yes, the water is 100% disinfected and sterilized, ensuring it is free of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. It is routinely sampled to guarantee its continued safety. The snow made from this water is completely safe to ski and recreate on.
The process is strictly regulated and permitted by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT DEQ).
Snowmaking water is sourced from the new state-of-the-art Big Sky Water Resource Recovery Facility.
The project is scheduled to start in 2025.
The project provides a beneficial reuse of the water resource and offers an annual net benefit of up to 44 million gallons to the watershed.
Reusing the water during the non-irrigation season helps to support the snowpack and augment stream flows.
This initiative supports Big Sky's commitment to remain a zero discharge community, which is the largest in the state of Montana.
This is the second reclaimed water snowmaking project in Montana.
Similar projects are in place in other states, including Maine, Michigan, and California, among others (Arizona, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Iowa, and New Hampshire).
