City of Miles City
EPA ID: MT0000291 · 9,565 people served · 5 ZIP codes
Looking at the EPA enforcement file for City of Miles City, 4 violations are listed as unresolved — those findings cover the utility's service area of approximately 9,565 people and remain open in the federal compliance system, awaiting formal corrective action documentation.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 14 (2022) to 2 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Miles City Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The City of Miles City serves a community with a median household income of $71,197 and an estimated 11,996 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
City of Miles City's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 2% of homes in Custer 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 76th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How City of Miles City compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
E. coli at 4 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 0800 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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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
City of Miles City (EPA ID: MT0000291) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 9,565 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: D (45/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0800 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0800 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2023 | E. coli | Health-based | Unresolved |
| July 18, 2023 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 4 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 4 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Contaminant 0800 | Other Violation | 2 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))
Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.
Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59301 | 0.003 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
Coverage: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 4 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Miles City (MT0000291) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Miles City water safe to drink?
City of Miles City has recorded 3 health-based violations 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 City of Miles City serve?
City of Miles City serves approximately 9,565 people across 5 ZIP codes in Montana.
Where does City of Miles City get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: MILES CITY CITY OF 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 chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from MILES CITY CITY OF 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.
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.
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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.
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
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
City of Miles City (EPA ID: MT0000291) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.