Chouteau County, Montana
7 ZIP codes · Avg score 59/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Recent monitoring in Chouteau County's 7 ZIP codes shows middle-tier safety — some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Chouteau County Compares
How Chouteau County Compares
Chouteau County scores 4 points above the Montana state average (55/100) and 9 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Chouteau County, Montana
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.3 (asthma 11.9%, diabetes 12.2%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $931, driven primarily by water_lead
Infrastructure: 0.426% avg pipe failure probability, 71% of ZIPs at high risk
72.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Chouteau County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 5 total (5 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $931
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
3,500 housing units in Chouteau County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Chouteau County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Chouteau County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Chouteau County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Chouteau County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highwood County Water and Sewer District | 280 | 20 |
| 2 | South Chouteau County Water District | 80 | 20 |
| 3 | Hawarden Square Butte Water | 50 | 10 |
| 4 | Carter Chouteau Company Water District | 150 | 8 |
| 5 | Twin Hills Colony Inc. | 78 | 8 |
13 total water systems serve Chouteau County.
All ZIP Codes in Chouteau County
7 ZIP codes tracked in Chouteau County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 59460 | Loma | 66 | C | 0 | $110K |
| 2 | 59446 | Geraldine | 65 | C | 6 (1 health) | $119K |
| 3 | 59450 | Highwood | 65 | C | 20 (1 health) | $248K |
| 4 | 59520 | Big Sandy | 65 | C | 2 | $124K |
| 5 | 59442 | Fort Benton | 61 | C | 4 | $210K |
| 6 | 59420 | Carter | 51 | D | 8 | $148K |
| 7 | 59521 | Box Elder | 40 | D | 0 | $68K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Chouteau County
Federal and certification sources drive the ordering: EPA monitoring data, NSF certifications, FEMA flood maps, and CDC lead guidance — guides surface only when county data warrants them.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 72.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Chouteau County, Montana
Overview
Chouteau County in Montana covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (59/100).
5 of 7 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Montana water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.