Laurel’s Yellowstone River Water Intake Clogged, City Seeks Urgent Solution
Laurel's water intake on the Yellowstone River is clogged with debris, including sticks, gravel, and silt, restricting water flow to the city's treatment plant. Divers are working to clear the blockage, which has been unusable for four months. The city…
Billings, MT, September 30, 2026 — Laurel is facing a significant challenge as its primary water intake on the Yellowstone River remains unusable due to a severe blockage. The intake, which has been out of service for approximately four months, is clogged with a substantial amount of debris, including sticks, gravel, and silt. This obstruction is severely restricting the flow of water necessary for the city’s treatment plant operations.
Divers are currently engaged in efforts to clear the clogged intake. However, the duration of the problem and the nature of the debris present a complex situation for restoration efforts.
The city is working under an urgent timeline to resolve the issue before the onset of winter. A primary concern is the potential impact of freezing temperatures on the city’s backup water intake system. If the primary intake cannot be restored to operation, the backup system faces the risk of becoming inoperable due to ice, which would further jeopardize the city’s water supply.
The full extent of the debris and the specific methods being employed by the divers were not detailed. The city’s administration is actively seeking a permanent solution to ensure a consistent and reliable water supply for its residents, particularly as colder weather approaches.
Story summarized from the original created by Grace Stewart on www.ktvq.com, see more information here.
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