Helena, MT: 88 Health Violations — 39/100 (2026)
8 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
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 Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Helena, MT
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Helena score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Helena Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 288 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 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 7 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Helena, Montana, covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 62,357 people.
8 of 8 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 88 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Helena: F (39/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Helena water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 126 | 8 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 99 | 8 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 36 | 8 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 27 | 8 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 18 | 8 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59601 | D | 36 | 11 | Helena Water System |
| 59602 | F | 36 | 11 | Helena Water System |
| 59604 | D | 36 | 11 | Helena Water System |
| 59620 | F | 36 | 11 | Helena Water System |
| 59623 | F | 36 | 11 | Helena Water System |
| 59624 | F | 36 | 11 | Helena Water System |
| 59625 | F | 36 | 11 | Helena Water System |
| 59626 | F | 36 | 11 | Helena Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Helena
- 59601 [D] — 36 violations ⚠
- 59602 [F] — 36 violations ⚠
- 59604 [D] — 36 violations ⚠
- 59620 [F] — 36 violations ⚠
- 59623 [F] — 36 violations ⚠
- 59624 [F] — 36 violations ⚠
- 59625 [F] — 36 violations ⚠
- 59626 [F] — 36 violations ⚠
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
Updated daily.
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.
Flood & Climate Risk in Helena
Taken together, Helena's 91 NFIP flood insurance claims and 25% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
Helena has a moderate flood history with 91 FEMA claims averaging $2,212 per payout. 25% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,250</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
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 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 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