Water System Report MT

Missoula Water

EPA ID: MT0000294 ยท 68,200 people served ยท 8 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Missoula Water (MT0000294): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Five clean years on EPA record - Missoula Water, 68,200 residents served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 65
Avg Safety Score
68,200
People Served
8
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$420K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Missoula Water Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$76,795
Median Household Income
105,381
Service Area Population
20%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
43%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Missoula Water serves a community with a median household income of $76,795 and an estimated 105,381 residents across its service area. Approximately 43% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Missoula 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
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

39 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
30 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 57% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Montana

City of Great Falls
60,000 people
0 violations
City of Bozeman
56,000 people
C 0 violations
C 3 violations
Helena Water System
32,091 people
D 3 violations
Kalispell Public Works
25,000 people
F 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $900
Total Estimated Cost $2,100

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

Missoula Water (EPA ID: MT0000294) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 68,200 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 8 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (65/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 6 of 8 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 Missoula Water (MT0000294) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Missoula Water water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Missoula Water 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 Missoula Water serve?

Missoula Water serves approximately 68,200 people across 8 ZIP codes in Montana.

Where does Missoula Water 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
1305

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 Missoula Water safe to drink?
Missoula Water 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?
Missoula Water meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Missoula Water serve?
Missoula Water serves approximately 68,200 people with drinking water across 8 ZIP codes.
What is Missoula Water's water source?
Missoula Water draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Missoula Water'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 Missoula Water's service area?
The Missoula Water service area has a median household income of $76,795. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Missoula Water get its water?
Missoula 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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Missoula Water, MT: Serves 68K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mt0000294/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mt0000294,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Missoula Water, MT: Serves 68K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mt0000294/}
}

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

Missoula Water (EPA ID: MT0000294) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems Montana Missoula Water

Get safety alerts for Missoula Water, Montana

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.