Billings – Montana – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your city
Billings Public Works provides comprehensive water services to approximately 110,000 residents in Montana’s largest city and surrounding areas, including portions of Yellowstone County. As a municipal utility serving the Magic City, the system operates approximately 800 miles of water distribution lines, multiple storage reservoirs, and advanced treatment facilities that deliver an average of 50 million gallons of drinking water daily to residents and businesses across the greater Billings metropolitan area.
Billings sources its drinking water exclusively from the Yellowstone River, the longest free-flowing river in the contiguous United States. The water is treated at the historic Belknap Water Treatment Plant, which has served the community since 1914 and undergone numerous modernizations to achieve a current capacity of 60 million gallons per day. Billings’ water consistently meets all federal and state quality standards, though the city faces unique challenges from seasonal drought conditions, extreme temperature fluctuations, and periodic flooding that can temporarily impact treatment operations. The utility has invested significantly in infrastructure improvements and is currently constructing a new West End Water Treatment Plant to enhance system resilience and ensure sustainable water supply for future generations.
Billings Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
Latest Testing Results
- Lead and Copper Monitoring: Billings Public Works maintains full compliance with EPA regulations for lead and copper in drinking water, with recent testing showing levels well below federal action thresholds. The city is actively replacing 320 service lines as part of system improvements.
- Annual Water Quality Reports: Billings publishes comprehensive Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) annually by July 1st, documenting all water quality testing and compliance monitoring throughout the distribution system.
- Compliance Status: The utility consistently meets all federal and state drinking water standards, maintaining compliance with EPA and Montana Department of Environmental Quality regulations despite challenging source water conditions.
Water Sources
- Yellowstone River: Billings’ sole water source, drawing from the 671-mile river that originates in Yellowstone National Park and flows through the city, providing high-quality surface water despite seasonal variations.
- Source Water Challenges: The river experiences extreme seasonal fluctuations, from historic flooding (87,000 cubic feet per second in 2022) to drought conditions with flows as low as 800 cubic feet per second during winter ice jams.
- Emergency Reserves: The city maintains 8-12 hours of reserve water in 18 storage reservoirs across Billings, with plans to dramatically increase storage capacity through the new West End project.
Treatment Technology
- Belknap Water Treatment Plant: The historic facility, established in 1914 and continuously upgraded, utilizes conventional treatment processes including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection with a capacity of 60 million gallons per day.
- State-Certified Laboratory: On-site laboratory performs comprehensive testing and monitoring to ensure water quality compliance, with testing protocols adapted to address seasonal source water variations.
- Treatment Challenges: Summer heat can cause equipment to operate at 90-95% capacity, while low river levels increase moss and debris that can impact treatment processes, requiring enhanced maintenance protocols.
Infrastructure Modernization
- West End Water Treatment Plant: A $68 million project under construction to provide backup treatment capacity, enhanced emergency reserves (increasing from hours to weeks), and improved system resilience against supply disruptions.
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Active replacement of 320 service lines as part of compliance with updated EPA Lead and Copper Rule requirements, with completion of service line inventory by October 2024.
- Utility System Modernization: Recent implementation of new billing software (VertexOne) and enhanced meter reading technology, including Neptune 360 smart meters for improved water usage monitoring and system efficiency.
Seasonal Water Management
Billings Public Works implements adaptive water management strategies to address Montana’s extreme climate variations. During summer months, when demand can reach 60 million gallons daily, the system operates at maximum capacity while monitoring equipment for overheating. The city has implemented Stage 1 water restrictions during peak demand periods, including Monday lawn watering prohibitions to allow system recovery and maintenance. During winter, ice jams on the Yellowstone River can reduce flows to as low as 400-500 cubic feet per second, requiring careful water supply management. The utility’s commitment to reliable service includes 24/7 monitoring, emergency response protocols, and ongoing infrastructure investments to ensure water security despite the challenges of serving Montana’s largest city with a single-source water system.
Recommendations for Billings Residents
Check Your Service Lines
Use Billings’ new Water Service Line Material Viewer at billingsmtpublicworks.gov to identify your service line material by address. For homes built before 1986, consider additional testing and contact Billings Public Works at 406-657-8345 for guidance.
Practice Water Conservation
Follow seasonal water restrictions and practice year-round conservation. During peak summer months, avoid watering on restricted days (typically Mondays) and consider drought-resistant landscaping to reduce system stress during high-demand periods.
Consider Home Filtration
While Billings’ water meets all safety standards, homes with older plumbing or residents sensitive to taste variations may benefit from NSF-certified filters, especially during seasonal source water changes or treatment adjustments.
Monitor for Leaks
Regularly check your water meter and look for signs of leaks, especially during high-usage billing periods. Even small leaks can significantly impact your bill and strain the city’s water system during peak demand seasons.
Stay Informed
Contact Billings Public Works at 406-657-8230 for water quality concerns or utility issues. Stay updated on seasonal restrictions, emergency notifications, and billing system updates through the city’s website and alert system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Billings’ tap water safe to drink?
Yes, Billings’ tap water meets all federal and state drinking water standards. The city’s water comes from the Yellowstone River and undergoes comprehensive treatment at the Belknap Water Treatment Plant, which has served the community since 1914 with continuous modernization.
Billings Public Works operates a state-certified laboratory that conducts extensive water quality testing throughout the distribution system. The utility publishes annual Consumer Confidence Reports by July 1st each year, providing detailed information about water quality testing results. Despite challenges from seasonal source water variations, the treatment plant maintains compliance with all EPA and Montana Department of Environmental Quality regulations.
Why does water pressure sometimes drop during summer?
Summer water pressure issues typically occur during peak demand periods when the system operates at 90-95% capacity:
1. High demand: Daily usage can reach 60 million gallons during hot weather, straining equipment and distribution systems
2. Equipment stress: Treatment plant machinery operates continuously at maximum capacity, requiring maintenance breaks
3. Reservoir levels: Storage tanks may not fully refill during high-usage periods, particularly in areas like the West End
The city implements Stage 1 water restrictions during these periods to allow equipment maintenance and reservoir recovery. The new West End Water Treatment Plant, currently under construction, will help alleviate these capacity constraints.
What about lead service lines in Billings?
Billings Public Works is actively addressing lead service lines in compliance with updated EPA regulations:
• Service line inventory: The city completed its lead service line inventory by October 2024, identifying all materials in the distribution system
• Active replacement: Billings is currently replacing 320 service lines identified for replacement as part of system improvements
• Testing compliance: Recent lead and copper testing shows levels well below EPA action thresholds
• Address lookup: Residents can check their service line material using the Water Service Line Material Viewer on the city’s website
Homes built before 1986 have a higher likelihood of containing lead components in internal plumbing. For concerns about lead exposure, contact Billings Public Works at 406-657-8345.
Are there current water restrictions in Billings?
Billings implements seasonal water restrictions based on demand and system capacity:
Stage 1 Restrictions (typically during peak summer):
• Prohibition of lawn watering on Mondays (12:00 am to 11:59 pm)
• Applies to all residential, business, and government properties using city water
• Exemptions for properties using well water or irrigation ditches
Emergency Response:
During extreme conditions (flooding, equipment failure, or severe drought), additional restrictions may include:
• Complete water conservation requests
• Alternate-day watering schedules
• Time-of-day watering prohibitions
Current restriction status is available at billingsmtpublicworks.gov or by calling 406-657-8230.
Contaminants of Concern
Seasonal Source Water Variations
Source: Natural variations in Yellowstone River water quality due to agricultural runoff, seasonal flooding, extreme drought, and upstream activities across the 671-mile watershed
Health Effects: While not directly harmful due to treatment processes, source water variations can affect taste, odor, and treatment efficiency, requiring enhanced monitoring and process adjustments
Current Management: Advanced treatment at Belknap Plant addresses seasonal challenges through multi-barrier approach including enhanced filtration and continuous monitoring Monitoring: State-certified laboratory conducts comprehensive testing adapted to seasonal source water conditions
PFAS Monitoring
Source: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from various industrial and consumer sources that can enter water systems, though Montana monitoring has shown limited detections in many areas
Health Effects: Research suggests potential concerns including impacts on immune system, cholesterol levels, and possible links to certain health conditions with long-term exposure
Current Status: EPA tested Billings water system during 2013-2015 with no detections above laboratory reporting limits for six PFAS compounds; additional monitoring under UCMR5 provides updated data Regulation: EPA finalized new PFAS drinking water standards in April 2024, with Montana DEQ reviewing adoption
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