CITY REPORT MT

Missoula, MT: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 65/100

8 ZIP codes · 14 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Missoula: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Available records for Missoula give it a middle-tier grade in MT; water systems can differ, so check the one that serves your home.

How Missoula Compares

Missoula65/100
Montana avg65/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

8
ZIP Codes
14
Water Systems
5
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
C · 65
Avg Safety Score
Zone 1
County Radon Potential (High)
$420K
Median Home Value

Water Quality Map: Missoula, MT

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Score Distribution

Safety grade breakdown for Missoula's 5 ZIP codes.

A
0
B
0
C
5
D
0
F
0

Key Facts for Missoula Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 27 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0017 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 45% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.46.

Missoula's Water Providers

Multiple utilities show up for Missoula, MT: 3 are listed here out of 14 tracked federally.

Overview

We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Missoula, Montana, covering 14 community water systems serving approximately 100,863 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 8 ZIP codes.

5 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (83%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Missoula: C (65/100)

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

Missoula water systems draw from: Groundwater.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0017 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 6 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
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 7 4
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 4 1
Nitrate-Nitrite Inorganic 2 1
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene Organic 2 1
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Organic 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
59808 C 21 0 Missoula Water
59804 — 4 0 Missoula Water
59802 C 2 0 Missoula Water
59803 C 2 0 Missoula Water
59801 C 1 0 Missoula Water

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
59812 C Missoula Water 68,200

All ZIP Codes in Missoula

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Missoula Community Health Snapshot

10.7%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
8.3%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
17.6%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

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

Asthma 10.7% ↑
Diabetes 8.3% ↓
Mental Health 17.6% ↑

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

What's in Missoula's Water?

Lead and Copper Rule 7 violations
Treatment Technique
Developmental delays in children, kidney damage
Consumer Confidence Rule 4 violations
Reporting
Nitrate-Nitrite 2 violations
Inorganic · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 10 mg/L

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

Missoula Infrastructure Age

1987
Median Build Year
45%
Built Before 1986
25%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 45% 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

Homes on the same street in Missoula can differ: one may keep original pre-1986 plumbing while another has been replumbed, so the 1987 median is only a starting point.

1987
Median Year Built
45%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
25%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (25%) 1970–1986 (20%) Post-1986 (55%)

Most homes in Missoula were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Missoula: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

45%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0017
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

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.

If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Missoula: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

118
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$8,613
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
33%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Missoula contains 118 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,613. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% 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.

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 Missoula

  1. 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.
  2. Install a certified water filter. For Lead and Copper Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Missoula: 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.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. With 45% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Missoula, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Missoula, MT?
Missoula has an average Home Safety Score of 65/100 (Grade C) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 27 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Missoula?
EPA records list 27 EPA violations for Missoula water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 8 mapped ZIP codes.
Does Missoula water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Missoula is 0.0017 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Missoula compare to Montana average?
Missoula has an average Home Safety Score of 65/100, which is at or above the Montana state average of 65/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Missoula?
Our records map 14 water systems to 8 ZIP codes in Missoula. The related population figure in our data is approximately 100,863 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
Home → Cities → Montana → Missoula, MT

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Missoula, MT: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 65/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/mt/missoula/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-mt-missoula,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Missoula, MT: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 65/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/mt/missoula/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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