Monitoring Violations MT

Bigfork County Water and Sewer

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

Bigfork County Water and Sewer's record shows 1 remedied violation — all cleared, currently compliant, 6,100 residents.

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

C · 60
Avg Safety Score
6,100
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
1
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.

💧 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

About 2% of homes in Flathead 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

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

Detected Contaminants

How Bigfork County Water and Sewer compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

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

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Montana

City of Lewistown
5,923 people
D 27 violations
B 1 violation
C 7 violations
City of Hamilton
5,585 people
C 1 violation
C 8 violations

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.

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 $2,400 (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

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.

Average Home Safety Score: C (60/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2024 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 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
59911 0.001 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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — 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?

Bigfork County Water and Sewer has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

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.

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 BIGFORK COUNTY WATER AND SEWER 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: BIGFORK COUNTY WATER AND SEWER Consumer Confidence Report.

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

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) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
2
Galvanized — Replacement Required
227
Unknown Material
1,276
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 6,100
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 Bigfork County Water and Sewer safe to drink?
Bigfork County Water and Sewer has a C safety grade based on 1 recorded violation. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Bigfork County Water and Sewer's water?
Detected contaminants include 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 1 contaminant 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 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.

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

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

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