What was found in Missoula's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 3940 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 61/65 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 3860 µg/L 297% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 62/65 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 2220 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 25/65 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1100 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 48/65 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 720 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 57/65 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 187 µg/L 1247% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 57/65 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 36 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 3/65 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 24 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 9/65 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 15 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/65 | UCMR-5 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 11 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 3/65 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 10 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/65 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 9.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/65 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 9 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 29/65 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 7.3 pCi/L 49% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 37/65 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 6.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/65 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 6.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/65 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 5.6 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 6/65 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4.7 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/65 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 4.6 µg/L 77% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 3/65 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 4 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 39/65 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.9 pCi/L 78% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 29/65 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 4/65 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/65 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/65 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 2 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/65 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.9 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 2/65 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 0.7400 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/65 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.2600 µg/L 5.2% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/65 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 0.1800 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/65 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0110 mg/L 73% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 65/65 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Missoula
The 50 largest of 65 suppliers serving Missoula, by population served.
Frequently asked questions about Missoula tap water
Is Missoula tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 30 contaminants in the water serving Missoula. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Missoula?
65 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Missoula, Montana to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Missoula's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Missoula include Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.