Water System Report MT

Kalispell Public Works

EPA ID: MT0000259 ยท 25,000 people served ยท 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Kalispell Public Works (MT0000259): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Although compliance varies widely among water utilities nationally, Kalispell Public Works stands out with zero EPA violations over five consecutive monitoring years, delivering safe tap water to 25,000 residents and showing no enforcement activity across the entire reporting span.

Data: EPA SDWIS

F ยท 35
Avg Safety Score
25,000
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$417K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Kalispell Public Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade F

Service Area Demographics

$70,391
Median Household Income
61,710
Service Area Population
37%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
49%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Kalispell Public Works serves a community with a median household income of $70,391 and an estimated 61,710 residents across its service area. Approximately 49% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 37% 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.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Kalispell Public Works'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
27 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 61% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Montana

Helena Water System
32,091 people
D 3 violations
C 3 violations
4 violations
City of Belgrade
10,460 people
C 0 violations
City of Whitefish
10,418 people
D 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $3,000

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:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,000 (one-time) vs. $330 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

Kalispell Public Works (EPA ID: MT0000259) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 25,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 59901 in Kalispell.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: F (35/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 1 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.002 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by MT or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Kalispell Public Works (MT0000259) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kalispell Public Works water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Kalispell Public Works in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Kalispell Public Works serve?

Kalispell Public Works serves approximately 25,000 people across 1 ZIP code in Montana.

Where does Kalispell Public Works get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
464
Detections
3
Latest sample
7/18/2023
Highest analyte
PFOS: 6.6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 6.6 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxS 5 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Kalispell Public Works safe to drink?
Kalispell Public Works has a F safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Kalispell Public Works meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Kalispell Public Works serve?
Kalispell Public Works serves approximately 25,000 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Kalispell Public Works's water source?
Kalispell Public Works draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Kalispell Public Works's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Kalispell Public Works's service area?
The Kalispell Public Works service area has a median household income of $70,391. EPA EJScreen data classifies 37% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Kalispell Public Works get its water?
Kalispell Public Works'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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Kalispell Public Works, MT: Serves 25K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mt0000259/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mt0000259,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Kalispell Public Works, MT: Serves 25K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mt0000259/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Kalispell Public Works (EPA ID: MT0000259) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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