Governor Gianforte, DEQ Celebrate Belt Water Treatment Plant Opening – State of Montana Newsroom (.gov)

Report on the Completion of the Belt Water Treatment Plant and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

On November 17, 2025, officials from the Montana Governor’s Office and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced the completion of a $13 million water treatment facility in Belt, Montana. This project directly addresses over a century of environmental degradation from abandoned coal mines, significantly advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Historical Context and Environmental Challenge

The area around Belt, Montana, has been impacted by acid mine drainage since the closure of local coal mines in the early 20th century. This legacy issue created a significant environmental challenge, directly contravening the principles of sustainable development.

• Source of Pollution: Abandoned coal mines from the late 1800s.
• Nature of Contamination: Daily discharge of over 200,000 gallons of water with low pH and high concentrations of dissolved metals, including over 800 pounds of iron and aluminum.
• Impact on Ecosystems: Severe contamination of Belt Creek, degrading water quality and harming aquatic life, thus failing to meet the objectives of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Project Implementation and Technical Solution

The Belt Water Treatment Plant is a landmark initiative for the DEQ’s Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Program. Construction, which began in 2023 following federal approval in 2019, was designed to provide a long-term, sustainable solution to the water contamination problem.

Technological Approach and SDG 6

The facility’s primary function is to restore water quality in Belt Creek, a core target of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

1. Water Treatment Process: The plant introduces lime into the acid mine water.
2. pH Neutralization: The lime raises the water’s pH to a neutral level.
3. Metal Removal: The change in pH causes dissolved metals to form a solid, which is then removed for disposal.
4. Outcome: The facility discharges clean, pH-neutral water back into Belt Creek, directly contributing to SDG Target 6.3 by improving water quality through the reduction of pollution.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

The project serves as a model for environmental reclamation and demonstrates a strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The plant’s core mission is to treat contaminated water, restoring the quality of Belt Creek and protecting a vital freshwater resource.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By mitigating a long-standing environmental hazard, the project enhances the safety and environmental quality of the Belt community.
• SDG 14 & 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land: The restoration of Belt Creek’s water quality is fundamental to protecting and reviving the local aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The project is funded by federal grants derived from a fee on coal, representing a form of producer responsibility for the environmental impacts of historic mining.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The successful completion of this facility was the result of effective collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including the Governor’s Office, DEQ, Cascade County, the City of Belt, and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Conclusion

The Belt Water Treatment Plant is a significant achievement in environmental stewardship for Montana. It not only resolves a century-old pollution problem but also provides a powerful example of how targeted infrastructure projects can advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals, fostering cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and more resilient communities.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Specific SDG Targets Identified

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
    
    Explanation: The article focuses on the construction of a water treatment plant to address pollution from abandoned coal mines. The plant’s purpose is to treat “acid mine drainage” and remove “over 800 pounds of iron, aluminum, and other dissolved metals” that were being discharged into Belt Creek daily, directly contributing to improving water quality by reducing the release of hazardous materials.
  • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems.
    
    Explanation: A primary goal of the project is “restoring Belt Creek,” a water-related ecosystem that has been contaminated for over a century. The new facility will “discharge pH neutral water to Belt Creek,” which is a critical step in restoring its ecological health.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
    
    Explanation: The project directly addresses the long-term adverse environmental impact of historical industrial activity on the community of Belt. By managing the contaminated water from abandoned mines, the initiative improves the local environment and provides “sustainable operations for the Belt community.”

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
    
    Explanation: The project is a direct action to restore an inland freshwater ecosystem (Belt Creek) that was severely degraded by mining activities. The article states the project is a “powerful example of our mission, delivering clean water, restoring Belt Creek.”
  • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
    
    Explanation: The water treatment plant was constructed on “abandoned mine land” as part of the DEQ Montana Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Program. This program is explicitly responsible for the “reclamation of Montana’s abandoned coal and hard rock mines to bring land back to life,” which aligns with restoring degraded land.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
    
    Explanation: The article highlights that the project’s success “would not have been possible without tremendous dedication and collaboration.” It explicitly recognizes several partners, including the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Governor’s Office, Cascade County, the City of Belt, and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder public partnership.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

• Indicator for Target 6.3

  • Implied Indicator: Measurement of water quality parameters in Belt Creek, such as pH levels and the concentration of dissolved metals.
    
    Explanation: The article provides a baseline for pollution, stating that the discharged water has “very low pH” and contains “over 800 pounds of iron, aluminum, and other dissolved metals” on an average day. Progress can be measured by monitoring the reduction of these metals and the neutralization of pH in the water discharged from the new facility.

• Indicator for Target 15.3

  • Implied Indicator: Area of degraded land restored.
    
    Explanation: The project is part of the AML Program, which aims to “bring land back to life.” The construction of the plant on abandoned mine land represents a specific area of degraded land being reclaimed and put to a productive, restorative use.

• Indicator for Target 17.17

  • Mentioned Indicator: Financial resources committed to the partnership.
    
    Explanation: The article explicitly states the project is a “$13 million water treatment plant.” This dollar amount represents a tangible financial commitment mobilized through the partnership between federal grant programs and state and local government entities to achieve a common goal.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.mt.gov