Health Violations Found MT 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Winifred Town of

EPA ID: MT0000363 · 274 people served · 2 ZIP codes

In the current EPA monitoring period, Winifred Town of has 1 violation still listed as unresolved, with the utility supplying water to approximately 274 residents.

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

D · 53
Avg Safety Score
274
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
4
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
3
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Winifred Town of Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$61,288
Median Household Income
359
Service Area Population
50%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
69%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Winifred Town of serves a community with a median household income of $61,288 and an estimated 359 residents across its service area. Approximately 69% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 50% 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

Winifred Town of'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
15th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
5th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Fergus 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

88 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
10 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 90% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Winifred Town of compares to EPA limits

Arsenic 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.01 mg/L

What This Means For You

Arsenic at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.01 mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP 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

0 violations
Ryegate Town of
270 people
C 7 violations
0 violations
Lima Town of
279 people
C 0 violations
C 20 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Water Filtration $150
Total Estimated Cost $1,350

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 $1,350 (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

Winifred Town of (EPA ID: MT0000363) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 274 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: D (53/100)

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

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 1 remains unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2024 Arsenic Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Arsenic Inorganic 1 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 Yes

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
59489 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

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Winifred Town of (MT0000363) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Winifred Town of water safe to drink?

Winifred Town of has recorded 1 health-based violation 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 Winifred Town of serve?

Winifred Town of serves approximately 274 people across 2 ZIP codes in Montana.

Where does Winifred Town of 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 WINIFRED TOWN OF 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: WINIFRED TOWN 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.

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
129
Confirmed Non-Lead

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.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2018-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 274
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 →

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).

  • monitoring · Nitrate and nitrites
    2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31
    Failed to test drinking water for Nitrate and nitrites during the monitoring period; quality of water could not be confirmed.

Violations record from WINIFRED TOWN OF 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

Is water from Winifred Town of safe to drink?
Winifred Town of has a D safety grade based on 4 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Winifred Town of's water?
Detected contaminants include Arsenic, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule. 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 Winifred Town of serve?
Winifred Town of serves approximately 274 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Winifred Town of's water source?
Winifred Town of draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Winifred Town of'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 Winifred Town of's service area?
The Winifred Town of service area has a median household income of $61,288. EPA EJScreen data classifies 50% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Winifred Town of get its water?
Winifred Town of'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. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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

Winifred Town of (EPA ID: MT0000363) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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