Great Falls, MT - Home Safety Score unavailable
5 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
Great Falls Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 87 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 76% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.14.
Water Systems Serving Great Falls
Counting every public water system linked to Great Falls, MT in federal data gives 6. The list below keeps the 3 largest by reported population served, a figure that covers each system's whole service area rather than the city alone. A household's own supplier is named on its water bill.
Overview
We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Great Falls, Montana, covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 75,786 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 5 ZIP codes.
2 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (67%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Water Sources
Great Falls water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0120 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
5 of 5 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 29 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 13 | 2 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | Inorganic | 8 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 7 | 2 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59404 | — | 82 | 2 | City of Great Falls |
| 59405 | — | 5 | 0 | City of Great Falls |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59401 | — | City of Great Falls | 60,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Great Falls
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.
CDC Health Data for Great Falls
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Great Falls
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Great Falls's Housing Stock?
With 76% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Great Falls has a median build year of 1965; houses completed ahead of 1986 can hold lead-bearing solder or fittings.
Over half of homes in Great Falls were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Great Falls: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The remediation-to-value ratio for Great Falls sits at the bottom of the scale.
Estimated remediation costs in Great Falls can be compared with local home values. The $225–$700 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 20% below the Montana average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Great Falls
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Even though compliance with the federal lead action level is judged on each system's own 90th percentile, the average of those results across Great Falls ZIP codes, 0.010 mg/L or more, is a reason to check at home, particularly in the 76% of housing built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Great Falls
Historical NFIP data for Great Falls contains 187 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $3,138. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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 $400 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 Great Falls, MT