Helena, MT: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 51/100
8 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Helena: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (5 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Because the grade blends several data sources, a D or F for Helena, MT does not by itself say which one drove it; the ZIP-level reports show the underlying data.
How Helena Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Helena Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 133 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.006 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.82.
Who Supplies Your Water in Helena
Service in Helena, MT can differ by address: 8 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Helena, Montana, covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 62,357 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 8 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Helena: D (51/100)
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
Helena water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0060 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
8 of 8 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 | 21 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 13 | 3 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 10 | 2 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 8 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59602 | D | 133 | 5 | Helena Water System |
| 59601 | D | 41 | 4 | Helena Water System |
| 59625 | — | 3 | 3 | Helena Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Helena
- 59601 [D] - 41 violations ⚠
- 59602 [D] - 133 violations ⚠
- 59604
- 59620
- 59623
- 59624
- 59625 - 3 violations ⚠
- 59626
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 Helena
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
Top Contaminants in Helena Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Helena Homeowners
This section sets two area figures side by side for Helena: the median home value and an estimated remediation cost. Here the estimate equals no more than 1% of that value, which places the city in the low tier; it is an area estimate, and the cost for any one property can be higher or lower.
Estimated remediation costs in Helena can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 25% above the Montana average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Helena
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.
Available area-level lead records for Helena do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. 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 Helena
Historical NFIP data for Helena contains 91 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $5,275. 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 $600 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.
What You Can Do in Helena
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Consumer Confidence Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Helena: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Helena, MT