Monitoring Violations MT

Hot Springs Municipal Water

EPA ID: MT0000251 · 600 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Hot Springs Municipal Water carries 2 resolved violations in the five-year EPA record — each has been formally closed, and the supplier, which serves approximately 600 people, now meets all applicable federal drinking water standards with no open enforcement activity remaining.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

D · 47
Avg Safety Score
600
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
2
Contaminants Flagged
$308K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Hot Springs Municipal Water Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$31,458
Median Household Income
1,302
Service Area Population
100%
Disadvantaged Population
80th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
55%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Hot Springs Municipal Water serves a community with a median household income of $31,458 and an estimated 1,302 residents across its service area. Approximately 55% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 100% 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?

Groundwater

Hot Springs Municipal Water'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.

Low Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 3% of homes in Sanders County, Montana rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

53 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
20 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 73% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Hot Springs Municipal Water compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Gross Alpha at 1 pCi/L exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L. Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Gross Alpha was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Montana

Joliet Town of
600 people
C 5 violations
D 0 violations
0 violations
Belt Town of
600 people
C 3 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Total Estimated Cost $1,200

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,200 (one-time) vs. $5,000 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Hot Springs Municipal Water (EPA ID: MT0000251) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 600 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: D (47/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

2 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2023 Gross Alpha Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Gross Alpha Radionuclides 1 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Hot Springs Municipal Water (MT0000251) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hot Springs Municipal Water water safe to drink?

Hot Springs Municipal Water has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Hot Springs Municipal Water serve?

Hot Springs Municipal Water serves approximately 600 people across 2 ZIP codes in Montana.

Where does Hot Springs Municipal Water 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 Hot Springs Municipal Water 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
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: Hot Springs Municipal Water Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from Hot Springs Municipal Water Consumer Confidence Report:
The source water assessment report for your water system provides additional information on your source water's susceptibility to contamination. To access this report please go to: https://deq.mt.gov/water/Programs/dw-sourcewater

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
376
Unknown Material
122
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 600
Reported to Montana

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Hot Springs Municipal Water safe to drink?
Hot Springs Municipal Water has a D safety grade based on 2 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Hot Springs Municipal Water's water?
Detected contaminants include Gross Alpha, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Hot Springs Municipal Water serve?
Hot Springs Municipal Water serves approximately 600 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Hot Springs Municipal Water's water source?
Hot Springs Municipal Water draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Hot Springs Municipal Water's service area?
The Hot Springs Municipal Water service area has a median household income of $31,458. EPA EJScreen data classifies 100% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Hot Springs Municipal Water get its water?
Hot Springs Municipal Water'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.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Hot Springs Municipal Water (EPA ID: MT0000251) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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