Health Violations Found MT 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District

EPA ID: MT0001917 · 2,175 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District's record shows 5 remedied violations — all cleared, currently compliant, 2,175 residents.

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

C · 64
Avg Safety Score
2,175
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
5
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.003 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
3
Contaminants Flagged
$272K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 6 (2023) to 1 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$59,883
Median Household Income
19,409
Service Area Population
57%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
73th
Energy Burden Percentile
55%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District serves a community with a median household income of $59,883 and an estimated 19,409 residents across its service area. Approximately 55% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 57% 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

Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
23th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
33th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Lake 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

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

Detected Contaminants

How Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 1032 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Montana

0 violations
City of East Helena
2,114 people
C 6 violations
Montana State Prison
2,100 people
0 violations
City of Troy
2,100 people
B 0 violations
City of Forsyth
2,260 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,000
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $2,300

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 $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,000
10 years
$10,000
20 years
$20,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,300 (one-time) vs. $10,000 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

Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District (EPA ID: MT0001917) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 2,175 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: C (64/100)

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

Violation History

2 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. All violations have been resolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 1, 2024 Contaminant 1032 Monitoring Resolved
November 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Health-based Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 9, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Health-based Resolved

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 2 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 2 Yes
Contaminant 1032 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
59855 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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP 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 Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District (MT0001917) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District water safe to drink?

Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District has recorded 2 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 Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District serve?

Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District serves approximately 2,175 people across 3 ZIP codes in Montana.

Where does Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District 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
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer Dist 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
599
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 2017-07-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 2,175
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 Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District safe to drink?
Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District has a C safety grade based on 5 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Contaminant 1032. 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 Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District serve?
Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District serves approximately 2,175 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District's water source?
Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.003 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District's service area?
The Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District service area has a median household income of $59,883. EPA EJScreen data classifies 57% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District get its water?
Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

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

Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District (EPA ID: MT0001917) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems Montana Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District

Get safety alerts for Pablo Lake County Water and Sewer District, Montana

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

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found — check filter options Free tool — no phone call required.