Montana – Big Sky Country – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your state
Montana’s vast water infrastructure serves approximately 1.1 million residents across diverse geographical regions, from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the Great Plains in the east. The state operates through a network of hundreds of public water systems, ranging from larger municipal utilities in cities like Billings and Missoula to smaller rural systems providing essential services to remote communities across the state’s 147,000 square miles. Montana’s water sources include the Yellowstone, Missouri, and Clark Fork river systems, along with numerous mountain streams, reservoirs, and groundwater aquifers that supply both urban centers and agricultural areas.
Despite abundant water resources from snowpack and pristine watersheds, Montana faces emerging infrastructure challenges. The state has received over $175 million in federal infrastructure investments from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address these challenges, focusing on drinking water safety, wastewater treatment upgrades, and emerging contaminant removal. Montana’s commitment to water quality improvement is demonstrated through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which regulates public water systems and has begun implementing new EPA drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals that take effect in 2029. The state’s proactive approach to water quality monitoring and infrastructure investment positions Montana as a leader in addressing both traditional water infrastructure needs and emerging contaminant challenges in the rural West.
Montana Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
Statewide Compliance and Testing
- Overall Compliance: The majority of Montana’s public water systems meet federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, with comprehensive monitoring programs managed by Montana DEQ ensuring consistent water quality across the state’s diverse communities.
- PFAS Monitoring: Montana has implemented comprehensive PFAS testing under EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5), with sample collection running from January 2023 through December 2025 across public water systems.
- Infrastructure Investment: Over $175 million in federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been allocated to Montana for water infrastructure improvements since 2022, including $18.9 million specifically for PFAS treatment in small and disadvantaged communities.
Major Water Sources and Challenges
- Yellowstone River System: Primary source for Billings and surrounding communities, with ongoing monitoring for emerging contaminants and seasonal water supply variations from snowpack conditions.
- Missouri River Basin: Serves northern Montana communities with support from federal rural water projects, including the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Regional Water System receiving substantial federal investment.
- Rural Water Infrastructure: Montana has received $101.5 million for rural water systems including the Rocky Boy’s/North Central system, Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System, and Fort Peck Reservation/Dry Prairie Rural Water System.
Emerging Contaminant Response
- PFAS Regulation Implementation: New EPA drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS (4 parts per trillion) take effect in 2029, requiring Montana DEQ to adopt standards through a two-year rulemaking process and water systems to implement treatment if needed.
- Treatment Technology Deployment: Water utilities like Kalispell have successfully implemented ion exchange treatment for PFAS removal, with samples showing no detectable PFAS compounds in finished water after treatment installation.
- Military Base Monitoring: Montana DEQ has conducted investigations at Malmstrom Air Force Base and Great Falls Air National Guard Base for PFAS contamination from aqueous film forming foam use.
Rural and Disadvantaged Communities
- Infrastructure Disparities: Rural water systems face unique challenges with aging infrastructure, limited technical capacity, and higher per-capita costs for compliance with new regulations across Montana’s vast geography.
- Targeted Federal Support: Dedicated funding streams through the Emerging Contaminants Small or Disadvantaged Communities program provide grants to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water in rural Montana.
- Tribal Water Rights: Montana has received $1.37 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Indian Water Rights Settlements, ensuring long-overdue water resources for Montana tribes including the Blackfeet, CSKT, and Crow Nations.
Looking Forward: 2025-2030
Montana’s water quality landscape is evolving as utilities prepare for new federal PFAS regulations and address infrastructure needs across the state’s diverse communities. The unprecedented federal investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, combined with Montana’s strong regulatory framework and commitment to rural water access, positions the state well to meet emerging challenges. However, successful implementation will require continued collaboration between state regulators, water utilities, tribal governments, and communities to ensure that all Montanans have access to safe, affordable drinking water while addressing the unique challenges of serving rural populations across vast distances and diverse terrain.
Recommendations for Montana Residents
Know Your Water Source
Contact your water utility to request annual water quality reports and ask about PFAS testing results. Visit Montana DEQ’s website to access your local system’s testing data and understand any contaminants of concern in your area.
Support Infrastructure Investment
Stay informed about local water infrastructure needs and support utility rate structures that enable necessary improvements. Attend public meetings when utilities discuss infrastructure upgrades and PFAS treatment investments.
Consider PFAS-Certified Filtration
For areas with known PFAS contamination, consider NSF-certified activated carbon or reverse osmosis filters specifically tested for PFAS removal. These can provide additional protection while utilities implement treatment upgrades.
Report Water Quality Concerns
Contact your local water utility immediately for taste, odor, or color concerns. Report suspected contamination to Montana DEQ’s Public Water Supply Bureau at (406) 444-2544 for investigation and follow-up.
Practice Water Conservation
Support Montana’s water sustainability by implementing conservation measures like efficient irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and low-flow fixtures. Reducing demand helps utilities maintain system reliability and affordability across the state’s vast geography.
Montana Cities We Cover
Billings Water Quality
Comprehensive analysis of Billings Public Works water systems, Montana’s largest city water utility. Includes information on Yellowstone River water sources, treatment processes, infrastructure modernization, and water quality monitoring in Big Sky Country’s economic center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montana’s tap water safe to drink?
Most of Montana’s public water systems meet federal drinking water standards and are safe for consumption. The state’s pristine mountain watersheds and rigorous monitoring provide high-quality water to most communities.
Montana DEQ requires comprehensive testing across all public water systems to ensure compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act standards. While some areas may have naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic or emerging concerns like PFAS near military installations, the state has received substantial federal funding to address these challenges. Montana’s proactive approach to water quality monitoring and infrastructure investment ensures continued safety for residents.
What are PFAS chemicals and are they a concern in Montana?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic “forever chemicals” that have been detected in some Montana water systems, particularly near military installations.
Montana has been conducting comprehensive PFAS monitoring under EPA’s UCMR5 program from 2023-2025. The chemicals have been linked to health concerns including cancer and immune system effects. Montana communities like Kalispell have successfully implemented treatment systems to remove PFAS, and the state has received federal funding specifically for PFAS treatment in small and disadvantaged communities. New EPA standards requiring PFAS levels below 4 parts per trillion take effect in 2029.
How can I find out about my local water quality?
Montana residents can access comprehensive water quality information through several resources:
• Annual Water Quality Reports: Contact your water utility directly for their Consumer Confidence Report, which details all testing results and any violations or concerns
• Montana DEQ Resources: Visit the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s drinking water program website to access testing results and compliance information for your local water system
• PFAS Testing Data: Montana DEQ requires public water systems to test for PFAS under UCMR5 and makes results publicly available
• Rural Water Systems: Contact Montana Rural Water Systems for technical assistance and information about smaller community water systems across the state
Why does Montana have water infrastructure challenges?
Montana’s water infrastructure faces several unique challenges:
Geographic Scale: Montana’s 147,000 square miles require extensive infrastructure to serve sparse populations, increasing per-capita costs for rural water systems
Rural Access: Many communities rely on small water systems that face limited technical capacity and funding challenges to meet complex treatment requirements
Seasonal Variations: Water supplies depend heavily on snowpack and seasonal runoff, requiring careful management and storage infrastructure
Emerging Contaminants: New requirements for PFAS monitoring and treatment require significant investment in advanced treatment technologies
The state is addressing these challenges through unprecedented federal infrastructure investments, improved coordination between state and local utilities, and targeted support for rural and tribal communities.
Contaminants of Concern
PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Source: Military installations using aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), including Malmstrom Air Force Base and Great Falls Air National Guard Base, along with industrial activities and consumer products
Health Effects: Linked to kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression, high cholesterol, and developmental effects in children
Current Status: Montana DEQ requires regular testing for naturally occurring contaminants, with treatment systems installed where needed to meet EPA standards; water hardness is common but generally not a health concern Regulatory Response: Ongoing monitoring and treatment requirements under Safe Drinking Water Act standards, with technical assistance for affected systems
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