Monitoring Violations MT

Red Lodge Water Department

EPA ID: MT0000314 · 2,000 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Dating back across the full five-year EPA tracking window, Red Lodge Water Department encountered 3 violations, each subsequently remedied and closed — today the utility meets all federal drinking water requirements for the 2,000 residents in its service area and holds no open enforcement actions.

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

D · 52
Avg Safety Score
2,000
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
3
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.004 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
3
Contaminants Flagged
$307K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Red Lodge Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$71,250
Median Household Income
3,683
Service Area Population
20%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
59%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Red Lodge Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $71,250 and an estimated 3,683 residents across its service area. Approximately 59% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Red Lodge Water Department'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
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Carbon 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

47 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
23 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 67% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Red Lodge Water Department compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

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

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 0700 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Montana

0 violations
City of Townsend
2,000 people
D 2 violations
Eureka Town of
1,995 people
C 6 violations
0 violations
City of Thompson Falls
1,950 people
C 4 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,667
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Total Estimated Cost $2,867

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 $2,867 (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

RED LODGE WATER DEPT (EPA ID: MT0000314) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 2,000 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: D (52/100)

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

Violation History

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

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
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 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
59068 0.004 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: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 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 Red Lodge Water Department (MT0000314) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Red Lodge Water Department water safe to drink?

Red Lodge Water Department has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Red Lodge Water Department serve?

Red Lodge Water Department serves approximately 2,000 people across 3 ZIP codes in Montana.

Where does Red Lodge Water Department 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 RED LODGE WATER DEPT 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: RED LODGE WATER DEPT Consumer Confidence Report.

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

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
42
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,085
Unknown Material
619
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 2,000
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 Red Lodge Water Department safe to drink?
Red Lodge Water Department has a D safety grade based on 3 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Red Lodge Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Contaminant 0700. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 3 contaminants 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 Red Lodge Water Department serve?
Red Lodge Water Department serves approximately 2,000 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Red Lodge Water Department's water source?
Red Lodge Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Red Lodge Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.004 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Red Lodge Water Department's service area?
The Red Lodge Water Department service area has a median household income of $71,250. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Red Lodge Water Department get its water?
Red Lodge Water Department'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

Red Lodge Water Department (EPA ID: MT0000314) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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