Billings, MT: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 77/100
14 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Billings: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Public water monitoring in Billings shows a safety record well above the MT median - health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.
How Billings Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Billings Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 46 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.005 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,229 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.29 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Billings
Billings, MT is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 8 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 14 ZIP codes in Billings, Montana, covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 145,092 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 14 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Billings: B (77/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Billings water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0050 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 14 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 18 | 3 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 15 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 4 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 3 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59101 | B | 38 | 2 | City of Billings |
| 59106 | B | 34 | 2 | City of Billings |
| 59105 | B | 8 | 0 | City of Billings |
| 59102 | B | 4 | 0 | City of Billings |
All ZIP Codes in Billings
- 59101 [B] - 38 violations ⚠
- 59102 [B] - 4 violations
- 59103
- 59104
- 59105 [B] - 8 violations
- 59106 [B] - 34 violations ⚠
- 59107
- 59108
- 59111
- 59112
- 59114
- 59115
- 59116
- 59117
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Billings
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Billings Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Billings Homeowners
Given current Billings valuations, the remediation-to-property-value ratio is low - most homeowners are looking at a proportionally modest share that fits within routine financial planning.
Remediation costs in Billings are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,386–$3,643 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 6% above the Montana average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Billings
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Lead risk in Billings appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Billings
Historical NFIP data for Billings contains 174 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,629. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$2,229</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Billings, MT