New Report: Is Butte’s Water Dumping Safe or Risky?

BUTTE, MT - For more than four decades, the Berkeley Pit in Butte, America—once a symbol of industrial might—has stood as a visible reminder of mining’s environmental toll.

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In a carefully coordinated effort beginning in 2019, Montana Resources and Atlantic-Richfield Co. have pumped 9 billion gallons of treated water from the toxic pit into nearby Silver Bow Creek.

The goal: to prevent the rising water in the pit from reaching a critical threshold that could send contaminants into surrounding groundwater.

But is this treated water truly safe? Or is Montana gambling with its environmental future?

The answer isn’t simple—I know, shocker. As local officials, scientists, and residents weigh in, it becomes clear: this issue isn’t black and white. It’s various shades of gray.

The Case for Safety: Testing, Treatment, and Monitoring

Montana Resources has emphasized the care taken in treating the water before it enters Silver Bow Creek.

Since 2019, more than 14,000 water samples have been taken, and officials say each batch of released water has met or exceeded state water quality standards.

Mike McGivern of Montana Resources describes the operation as both successful and vital.

The current pumping strategy has kept water levels nearly 60 feet below the threshold at which the pit could leak into the groundwater supply.

Supporters point to this data as a sign that science and regulation are working hand in hand.

Without this pumping, the toxic water in the pit could overflow into surrounding aquifers—posing far greater ecological and health risks.

The Concerns: Long-Term Risks and “Forever Decisions”

Some residents and environmental advocates remain uneasy.

Fritz Daily, a longtime Butte citizen and former legislator, is one of them. While he acknowledges the current success, he questions what happens in the future.

“What’s going to happen 10 years down the road or 20 years down the road? Eventually, the mine’s going to close. There’s no question,” Daily said to KXLF.

Critics argue that relying on ongoing industrial operations to manage environmental hazards is inherently risky.

Companies may change hands, regulations may shift, and corporate commitments may falter over time. The fear is that decisions made today—however well-intentioned—could leave future generations with costly or irreversible consequences.

Environmental Legacy and Trust in Oversight

At the heart of the debate lies a deeper tension: trust.

While Montana Resources and Atlantic-Richfield are held accountable under Superfund regulations, the public’s memory of past mining disasters undoubtedly still looms.

Silver Bow Creek itself was once one of the most polluted waterways in the country, now partially restored through decades of cleanup.

Supporters argue that constant monitoring, clear benchmarks, and federal oversight create a strong enough framework to trust in the process.

Detractors say that even the best oversight is still vulnerable to human error, corporate pressure, or economic downturns.

An Ongoing Balancing Act

So, is the water being dumped into Silver Bow Creek dangerous? The answer depends on where you stand.

According to current science and regulation, the treated water meets safety standards. The pit water is being effectively managed, and the rising toxic levels have been stopped in their tracks.

But that doesn’t erase the legitimate concerns about what happens next. Environmental stewardship, especially in a place with a legacy as complex as Butte’s, is rarely a one-time fix. It’s a long game.

And for now, the community continues to watch—carefully—because even in the gray, vigilance is everything.