COUNTY REPORT MT

Phillips County, Montana

7 ZIP codes · Avg score 59/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

For most households in Phillips County, the 7 tracked ZIP codes show adequate but uneven water quality.

How Phillips County Compares

Phillips County59/100
Montana avg55/100
National avg68/100

How Phillips County Compares

C
County Grade
59/100
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems

Phillips 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

C
County Grade
59
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 59261 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 59527 (40/100)
$164K
Median Home Value
$1,929
Avg Remediation (118% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Phillips County, Montana

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

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 14.5 (asthma 11.5%, diabetes 12.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,310, driven primarily by ust_tanks

Infrastructure: 0.401% avg pipe failure probability, 57% of ZIPs at high risk

68.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Phillips County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
1 (1 health)
2025
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2021 with 1 violation. Past 5 years: 2 total (2 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.5% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.1% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1971
Median Build Year
68.9%
Pre-1978 Housing
40%
Pipe Failure Probability
57%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,310

Underground Tanks $423/yr
Flood $286/yr
Energy Code Gap $244/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

2,678 housing units in Phillips County

Pre-1940 20%
1940–1959 16%
1960–1979 26%
1980–1999 25%
2000+ 12%

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 Phillips County

$164K
Median Home Value
$1,929
Est. Remediation Cost
1.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Phillips 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 Phillips County residents

Asthma 11.5% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.1% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Phillips County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Dodson Town of 120 22
2 City of Malta 1,800 12
3 East Malta Colony 47 12
4 PHILLIPS COUNTY ZORTMAN WATER AND SEWER 169 5
5 Camp Creek Wua Inc. 50 5

7 total water systems serve Phillips County.

All ZIP Codes in Phillips County

7 ZIP codes tracked in Phillips County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 59261 Saco 70 B 1 $164K
2 59524 Dodson 69 C 22 (1 health) $59K
3 59546 Zortman 64 C 5
4 59538 Malta 59 C 12 $175K
5 59537 Loring 55 C 0
6 59544 Whitewater 53 D 0 $221K
7 59527 Hays 40 D 0 $64K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Phillips County

Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.

Overview

Phillips County in Montana covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (59/100).

4 of 7 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation have been documented.

← Back to Montana water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Phillips County?
Phillips County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Phillips County?
Phillips County is served by 7 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 7 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Phillips County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Phillips County is ust_tanks. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,310 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Phillips County?
The median home build year in Phillips County is 1971. 68.9% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Phillips County compare to Montana?
Phillips County has an average water safety score of 59/100, which is above the Montana state average of 55/100.

Get safety alerts for Phillips, Montana

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.