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.
While Missoula avoids MT's lowest safety tiers, a portion of its water systems have logged documented violations.
How Missoula Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Missoula, MT
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Missoula's 5 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Missoula Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 27 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0017 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 45% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,100 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.46.
Missoula's Water Providers
Residential water in Missoula, 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 14 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
- C
- C
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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 7 | 4 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 2 | 1 |
| PFNA | PFAS | 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
- 59801 [C] - 1 violation
- 59802 [C] - 2 violations
- 59803 [C] - 2 violations
- 59804 - 4 violations
- 59806
- 59807
- 59808 [C] - 21 violations
- 59812 [C]
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.
Missoula Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Missoula's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Missoula Infrastructure Age
With 45% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
What does a median build year of 1987 mean for water safety in Missoula? It means the housing stock straddles two key plumbing thresholds: the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in copper plumbing, and the pre-1970 era when lead pipes were commonly installed for service lines. A meaningful share of homes predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating varied risk levels across the city's housing inventory.
Most homes in Missoula were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Missoula
Placing remediation in the context of Missoula's property market, the equity share is low - most homeowners here are weighing a financial commitment that fits comfortably within routine property planning, far from the threshold where remediation becomes a material equity decision rather than a standard upkeep consideration.
Remediation costs in Missoula are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,400–$2,850 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 42% above the Montana average.
Missoula: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Although utility-side compliance with federal Lead and Copper requirements remains the system reference, that compliance does not extend down into interior plumbing. With 45% of Missoula stock built before the solder ban and aggregate readings at or beyond the action mark, a household-level sample becomes the practical way to close that information gap.
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
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. The <strong>$2,100</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 Missoula
- 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 Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Missoula's water.
- 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