Is Great Falls, MT tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Great Falls.

27 public water systems serve parts of Great Falls. The largest, City of Great Falls, serves 60,000 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Great Falls

60,000 people · Surface water · EPA ID MT0000525

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 12 ppb at the 90th percentile (Jun 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Near 2027 action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 5

Full City of Great Falls results

Across Montana, 0 of 40 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 6 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Montana results.

Great Falls homes and lead pipes

72%

of homes built before 1980 (Montana 49%, US 50%)

25%

built before 1950 (Montana 17%)

34%

of households rent (Montana 31%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Great Falls city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Great Falls

Malmstrom Air Force Base Water System
8,850 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violationsAlso: Lithium above screening level
Sun Prairie Village County Water System
1,800 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Prairie Water Company
1,000 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Countryside Village MHP Grt Fls
600 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Gore Hill County Water District
500 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Bushard Water Company
425 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016

20 more systems

Highwood Mobile Home Park Water System
400 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sun Prairie Water District
350 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Great Falls RV Park Water System
274 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Ryan Dam Water System
230 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Coliform bacteria violation
South Wind Water and Sewer District
200 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Arsenic violations
Grandview Trailer Court Water System
165 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Pleasant Park Community Inc
125 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Big Bend Ranch Subdivision
100 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Coliform bacteria violation
Shade Tree Mobile Park Water System
100 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Rivershore Community LLC
90 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Missouri Meadows Community Inc
85 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Spring Tree Ridge Water System
80 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Coliform bacteria violation
Rivers Edge Mobile Home Park Grt Fls Water System
75 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Big Stack Estates Water System
60 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
The Falls Mobile Home Community Water System
60 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Park Garden Estates Water System
50 people · Groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Cobblestone Court Water System
50 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sunset Boulder MHP LLC
45 people · Purchased groundwater · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Big Sky Mobile Home Park Water System
40 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
High Plains H2o LLC
25 people · Purchased surface water · Montana · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Helena 71 mi Helena Water System	Helena Water System	None above limits	3 ppb
Bozeman 126 mi City of Bozeman	City of Bozeman	None above limits	1.6 ppb
Butte 128 mi Butte Silverbow Water Dept	Butte Silverbow Water Dept	None above limits	2 ppb
Missoula 134 mi Missoula Water	Missoula Water	None above limits	2 ppb
Kalispell 149 mi Kalispell Public Works	Kalispell Public Works	None above limits	2 ppb
Billings 174 mi City of Billings	City of Billings	None above limits	3 ppb

Great Falls ZIP codes (1)

59401

Questions

Is Great Falls tap water safe to drink?

City of Great Falls had 5 health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Great Falls, MT?

27 public water systems serve parts of Great Falls. The largest is City of Great Falls (60,000 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Great Falls tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Great Falls had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Great Falls homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 72% of Great Falls homes as built before 1980 (Montana: 49%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. City of Great Falls's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.