Highwood County Water and Sewer District
EPA ID: MT0000248 · 280 people served · 1 ZIP code
In the current EPA monitoring period, Highwood County Water and Sewer District has 2 violations still listed as unresolved, with the utility supplying water to approximately 280 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Highwood County Water and Sewer District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Highwood County Water and Sewer District serves a community with a median household income of $80,417 and an estimated 568 residents across its service area. Approximately 70% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 50% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Highwood County Water and Sewer District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
About 1% of homes in Chouteau County, Montana rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Highwood County Water and Sewer District compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Arsenic at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.01 mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 11 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Montana
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Highwood County Water and Sewer District (EPA ID: MT0000248) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 280 people from groundwater sources.
This system serves ZIP code 59450 in Highwood.
Average Home Safety Score: C (65/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| May 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 11 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 3 | Yes |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 2 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59450 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
- 59450 — Highwood
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Highwood County Water and Sewer District (MT0000248) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highwood County Water and Sewer District water safe to drink?
Highwood County Water and Sewer District has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Highwood County Water and Sewer District serve?
Highwood County Water and Sewer District serves approximately 280 people across 1 ZIP code in Montana.
Where does Highwood County Water and Sewer District get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from Highwood County Water and Sewer District Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Highwood County Water and Sewer District Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Highwood County Water and Sewer District Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
CCR ADEQUACY/AVAILABILITY/CONTENT2023-10-01 to 2024-03-01
We failed to provide to you, our drinking water customers, an annual report that adequately informed you about the quality of our drinking water and the risks from exposure to contaminants detected in our drinking water.
-
FOLLOW-UP OR ROUTINE TAP M/R (LCR)2023-10-01 to 2024
We failed to test our drinking water for the contaminant and period indicated. Because of this failure, we cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during the period indicated.
Violations record from Highwood County Water and Sewer District Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Highwood County Water and Sewer District (EPA ID: MT0000248) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.