Water System Report MT

Bigfork County Water and Sewer

EPA ID: MT0000262 ยท 6,100 people served ยท 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Bigfork County Water and Sewer (MT0000262): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Unlike many utilities its size, Bigfork County Water and Sewer carries a violation-free five-year record - no EPA notices, no MCL exceedances, serving 6,100 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 67
Avg Safety Score
6,100
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$608K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Bigfork County Water and Sewer Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$81,846
Median Household Income
9,316
Service Area Population
37%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
40%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Bigfork County Water and Sewer serves a community with a median household income of $81,846 and an estimated 9,316 residents across its service area. Approximately 40% 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

Bigfork County Water and Sewer'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
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

29 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
41 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 41% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Montana

City of Lewistown
5,923 people
C 1 violation
0 violations
B 3 violations
City of Hamilton
5,660 people
C 0 violations
1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
Total Estimated Cost $2,400

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

Bigfork County Water and Sewer (EPA ID: MT0000262) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 6,100 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 59911 in Bigfork.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (67/100)

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
0.001 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 Bigfork County Water and Sewer (MT0000262) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bigfork County Water and Sewer water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Bigfork County Water and Sewer 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 Bigfork County Water and Sewer serve?

Bigfork County Water and Sewer serves approximately 6,100 people across 1 ZIP code in Montana.

Where does Bigfork County Water and Sewer get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

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†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Bigfork County Water and Sewer safe to drink?
Bigfork County Water and Sewer has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Bigfork County Water and Sewer meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Bigfork County Water and Sewer serve?
Bigfork County Water and Sewer serves approximately 6,100 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Bigfork County Water and Sewer's water source?
Bigfork County Water and Sewer draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Bigfork County Water and Sewer's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Bigfork County Water and Sewer's service area?
The Bigfork County Water and Sewer service area has a median household income of $81,846. EPA EJScreen data classifies 37% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Bigfork County Water and Sewer get its water?
Bigfork County Water and Sewer'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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Bigfork County Water and Sewer Water Quality Report, MT. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mt0000262/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mt0000262,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Bigfork County Water and Sewer Water Quality Report, MT}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mt0000262/}
}

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

Bigfork County Water and Sewer (EPA ID: MT0000262) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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