Helena, MT: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 51/100
8 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Helena: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (5 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Water systems serving Helena record elevated violation rates against MT benchmarks - residents in affected areas may want to check their local system's current compliance status.
How Helena Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Helena Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 133 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.006 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,250 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.82.
Who Supplies Your Water in Helena
Residential water in Helena, MT is supplied by 3 separate utilities - not one centralized authority. Each of those providers operates under its own service territory boundary, maintains its own distribution infrastructure, and files compliance documentation with the EPA on its own timeline. Federal data counts 8 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 8 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 21 | 2 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 13 | 3 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 10 | 2 |
| Total Coliform | 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). 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 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
Remediation costs in Helena are small relative to typical property values - the cost-to-value ratio here is favorable.
Remediation costs in Helena are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,400–$3,675 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 25% above the Montana average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Helena
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 Helena 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 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 <strong>$2,250</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.
What You Can Do in Helena
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Surface Water Treatment Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Helena's water.
- 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. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Helena, MT