Virginia City Water Department
EPA ID: MT0000353 · 1,500 people served · 1 ZIP code
The EPA enforcement database lists 1 active violation for Virginia City Water Department — a provider that delivers drinking water to approximately 1,500 people and has not yet formally resolved those findings.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2023) to 3 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Virginia City Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Virginia City 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.
About 0% of homes in Madison 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
Detected Contaminants
How Virginia City Water Department compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Contaminant 0700 at 10 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Montana
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
Virginia City Water Department (EPA ID: MT0000353) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 1,500 people from groundwater sources.
This system serves ZIP code 59755 in Virginia City.
Average Home Safety Score: C (61/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| August 1, 2023 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2023 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 10 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59755 | 0.002 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
- 59755 — Virginia City
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Virginia City Water Department (MT0000353) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Virginia City Water Department water safe to drink?
Virginia City Water Department has recorded 4 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 Virginia City Water Department serve?
Virginia City Water Department serves approximately 1,500 people across 1 ZIP code in Montana.
Where does Virginia City Water Department get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: VIRGINIA CITY 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.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from VIRGINIA CITY WATER DEPT 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.
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.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
treatment technique · microbial disinfection2024-02-01/2024-02-29
Measurements of disinfectant indicate that adequate disinfection did not occur for the period indicated. Adequate disinfection is required to ensure safe drinking water.
-
monitoring2024-07-01/2024-07-31
We failed to test our drinking water for the contaminant and period indicated. Because of this failure, we cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during the period indicated.
-
monitoring2024-10-01/2024-10-31
We failed to test our drinking water for the contaminant and period indicated. Because of this failure, we cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during the period indicated.
-
monitoring2024-11-01/2024-11-30
We failed to complete all the required tests of our drinking water for the contaminant and period indicated.
-
public notice2024-11-01/2024-11-30
We failed to test our drinking water for the contaminant and period indicated. Because of this failure, we cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during the period indicated.
Violations record from VIRGINIA CITY WATER DEPT Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
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
Virginia City Water Department (EPA ID: MT0000353) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.