Monitoring Violations MT

Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363

EPA ID: MT0002385 · 4,132 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 recorded 1 EPA violation over the past five years, all of which have since been resolved — the utility is currently in compliance serving 4,132 residents.

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

B · 70
Avg Safety Score
4,132
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00484 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
2
Contaminants Flagged
$843K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$110,623
Median Household Income
4,234
Service Area Population
5%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
34%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 serves a community with a median household income of $110,623 and an estimated 4,234 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363'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
60th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Gallatin County, Montana rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

31 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
39 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 44% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 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 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Montana

0 violations
City of Shelby
3,970 people
C 19 violations
City of Dillon
4,300 people
C 11 violations
North Star Zoot Water
4,323 people
0 violations
City of Columbia Falls
4,450 people
C 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $250
Total Estimated Cost $2,650

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.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,650 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 (EPA ID: MT0002385) is a community water system in Montana that serves approximately 4,132 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: B (70/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
April 1, 2025 Arsenic Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Arsenic Inorganic 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment 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
59716 0.00484 mg/L No N/A
59730 0.0043 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: 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 Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 (MT0002385) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 water safe to drink?

Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 serve?

Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 serves approximately 4,132 people across 2 ZIP codes in Montana.

Where does Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 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: BIG SKY COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DIST 363 Consumer Confidence Report.

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

Source water assessment from BIG SKY COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DIST 363 Consumer Confidence Report:
The source water assessment report for your water system provides additional information on your source water's susceptibility to contamination. To access this report please go to: https://deq.mt.gov/water/Programs/dw-sourcewater

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Minimal — disinfection only
Disinfection (typically chlorine) without additional filtration or coagulation stages. Common for groundwater systems where source water meets federal standards after disinfection alone.

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

Urban stormwater runoffLivestock operationsMiningFarmingWastewater dischargesSewage

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from BIG SKY COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DIST 363 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.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
116
Detections
1
Latest sample
9/23/2025
Highest analyte
PFBS: 3.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBS 3.1 ppt

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) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

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
794
Unknown Material
2,764
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 4,132
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 Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 safe to drink?
Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 earns a B safety grade with 1 violation in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363's water?
Detected contaminants include Arsenic, Stage 1 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 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 Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 serve?
Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 serves approximately 4,132 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363's water source?
Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00484 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363's service area?
The Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 service area has a median household income of $110,623. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 get its water?
Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363'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

Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363 (EPA ID: MT0002385) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems Montana Big Sky County Water and Sewer District 363

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