Sanders County, Montana
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 60/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Recent monitoring in Sanders County's 8 ZIP codes shows middle-tier safety — some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Sanders County Compares
How Sanders County Compares
Sanders County scores 5 points above the Montana state average (55/100) and 8 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Sanders County, Montana
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 15.5 (asthma 11%, diabetes 13.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $748, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.316% avg pipe failure probability, 13% of ZIPs at high risk
49.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
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: $748
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
6,549 housing units in Sanders 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 Sanders County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Sanders 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 Sanders 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 Sanders County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Thompson Falls | 1,950 | 4 |
| 2 | Salish Shores Trade Winds Commission Village | 215 | 4 |
| 3 | Woodside Park County Water and Sewer Dis | 115 | 4 |
| 4 | North Shore Estates Hoa | 65 | 4 |
| 5 | Hot Springs Municipal Water | 600 | 2 |
13 total water systems serve Sanders County.
All ZIP Codes in Sanders County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Sanders County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 59859 | Plains | 68 | C | 1 | $404K |
| 2 | 59844 | Heron | 66 | C | 1 | $430K |
| 3 | 59853 | Noxon | 66 | C | 0 | $277K |
| 4 | 59873 | Thompson Falls | 64 | C | 4 | $245K |
| 5 | 59856 | Paradise | 63 | C | 0 | $500K |
| 6 | 59874 | Trout Creek | 62 | C | 0 | $482K |
| 7 | 59845 | Hot Springs | 54 | D | 2 | $174K |
| 8 | 59848 | Lonepine | 40 | D | 0 | $442K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Sanders County
If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Sanders County, Montana
Overview
Sanders County in Montana covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (60/100).
4 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← 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.