Public water system record
Helena Water System
Serves Helena, Helena Valley Southeast, Helena Valley Northeast and 1 more place, Lewis and Clark County, MT · 32,091 people served
Federal records show 3 health-based violations and 1 monitoring/reporting issue for Helena Water System in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 3
- Resolved
- 3
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 1
Key facts
- Helena Water System draws water from 3 wells, 6 surface water intakes and 2 reservoirs.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), 0.066 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.1 times the limit), 2022.
- Record on file since 1993, with 1 health-based violation before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 214 unknown out of 1,055 service lines.
Check whether Helena Water System serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.062 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
220 | Jan 1, 2023 | Resolved | No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.062 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2022 | Resolved | No |
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.066 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
220 | Jul 1, 2022 | Resolved | No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2008 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
Full record since 1993
EPA's records for Helena Water System go back to 1993. Before October 19, 2016 they list 1 health-based violation (1 resolved) and 20 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 | 3 |
| 2000s | 1 | 15 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020s | 3 | 0 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began September 2008, Resolved.
Show the health-based violation before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Sep 1, 2008 | Resolved |
What the violations mean
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
3 incidentsHaloacetic acid byproducts exceeded the federal limit
Long-term exposure to HAAs may increase cancer risk
Where the water comes from
Helena Water System draws water from 3 wells, 6 surface water intakes and 2 reservoirs. 2 other community water systems and 8 smaller public systems such as schools, businesses or campgrounds buy water from Helena Water System. 1 other public water system has an emergency connection to Helena Water System.
Community systems that buy water from it
- Mobile City 3 Billings, MT
- VA Medical Center Helena Fort Harrison, MT
Annual water quality report
Helena Water System must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Montana.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells