Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

STATE

Montana

CONTAMINANTS

72

serves

739,000

data

2013-2024

UTILITIES

771

Overview

EWG's drinking water quality report for Montana shows results of tests conducted by the water utilities in Montana and provided to EWG by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

LARGE UTILITIES
ALL UTILITIES WITH VIOLATIONS
LARGE UTILITIES WITH VIOLATIONS

Large utilities in Montana

Below are utilities in Montana serving over 10,000 people, listed alphabetically.

UtilityLocationPeople Served
Belgrade, City ofBelgrade, MT10,460
Butte-Silver Bow Water DepartmentButte, MT33,000
City of BillingsBillings, MT114,000
City of BozemanBozeman, MT56,000
City of Great FallsGreat Fall, MT60,000
Co Water District of Billings HeightsBillings, MT12,000
Helena Water SystemHelena, MT31,005
Kalispell Public WorksKalispell, MT20,008
Mountain Water CompanyMissoula, MT68,200
Whitefish, City ofWhitefish, MT10,418

Utilities that accumulated/accrued the most violation points as of July 2021 to June 2024 in Montana

The Environmental Protection Agency's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database collects compliance and enforcement-related information for drinking water utilities nationwide. ECHO water quality violation scores take into account federal health-based water quality standards, as well as monitoring, reporting and other drinking water quality requirements. Points are accrued based on specific problems at the utility - violations of health-based drinking water standards receive more points than monitoring and reporting violations - and the length of time until the violations were corrected.

UtilityLocationPeople ServedViolation Points
Denton, Town ofDenton, MT255565
King Ranch ColonyLewistown, MT56161
Whitehall, Town ofWhitehall, MT1,500100
Harlem, City ofHarlem, MT820100
Turner ColonyTurner, MT5085
Worden Ballantine YellowstoneWorden, MT80045
Crystal Springs Water SystemBillings, MT22540
St. Labre Indian SchoolAshland, MT65025
Ncmrwa Tiber Service AreaHelena, MT20020
Casitas Del RioGlendive, MT21620
Richland County Valley View WuaSidney, MT8515
Arrow Creek Trailer CourtBallantine, MT7513
North Valley County Water and Sewer DistrictSt Marie, MT45012
Milford Colony Inc.Wolf Creek, MT6711
Still River Estates SubdivisionBillings, MT18811
Palisades ApartmentsMiles City, MT5010
Granite Park Water AssociationBillings, MT25010
Tiber County Water DistrictBrady, MT75010
Wegner Water Service HaulerHardin, MT5010
Colstrip, City ofColstrip, MT2,35010
Ryans LotMissoula, MT347
Philipsburg, Town ofPhilipsburg, MT1,3605
Wilsall Water DistrictWilsall, MT2505
Rivers Edge Mobile Park LibbyLibby, MT505
Mcdonald Trailer CourtEast Helena, MT755
Spring Tree RidgeGreat Falls, MT805
Big Bend Ranch SubdivisionGreat Falls, MT1005
Dodson, Town ofDodson, MT1205
Riverview ColonyChester, MT1305
East Helena, City ofEast Helena, MT2,1145

Large utilities that accumulated/accrued the most violation points as of July 2021 to June 2024 in Montana

The Environmental Protection Agency's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database collects compliance and enforcement-related information for drinking water utilities nationwide. ECHO water quality violation scores take into account federal health-based water quality standards, as well as monitoring, reporting and other drinking water quality requirements. Points are accrued based on specific problems at the utility - violations of health-based drinking water standards receive more points than monitoring and reporting violations - and the length of time until the violations were corrected.

UtilityLocationPeople ServedViolation Points

Contaminants found in Montana above health guidelines

Found above health guidelines Found
Contaminant # of Utilities People Served # of Utilities People Served
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)282585,484290612,507
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)253581,532259610,790
Arsenic248522,613248522,613
Bromodichloromethane235505,842238576,492
Dichloroacetic acid197476,140201482,112
Bromochloroacetic acid206475,930207486,348
Chloroform193466,934245564,823
Trichloroacetic acid179466,042182470,392
Dibromoacetic acid218461,398222538,006
Nitrate & nitrite431421,896710721,422
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)42403,63042403,630
Dibromochloromethane224386,885231464,552
Chromium (hexavalent)24306,85649418,718
Radium, combined (-226 & -228)275212,181323226,945
Uranium, combined (pCi/L)290123,186417311,802
Nitrate65105,423147216,131
Bromoform4940,883125161,175
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)120,008120,008
Manganese2014,557245552,106
Cadmium29502950
Chloromethane175031,330
Carbon tetrachloride17501750
Bromochloromethane16501650
Benzene26252625
1,2,3-Trichloropropane14831483
Antimony16742,101
Thallium160160
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate145182,180

Contaminants found in Montana above legal limits

What filter type is right for you?

Water
Contaminants

view utility

Carbon Filters

Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.

pros

  • Lower upfront cost
  • Reduced maintenance

cons

  • Does not remove all contaminants

Reverse Osmosis

Most effective at reducing contaminants.

pros

  • Most effective

cons

  • Higher upfront cost
  • Requires more maintenance
  • Wastes water

Other Considerations

Ion Exchange

Pros: Softens hard water, Reduces some contaminants

Cons: Doesn't remove all contaminants

Whole-House Filters

Pros: Useful for reducing radiologicals and TCE

Cons: Expensive to install and maintain, Risk of bacterial contamination

Distillation

Pros: Removes heavy metals and harmful microbes

Cons: Does not reduce most contaminants

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