We read 15 results from Missoula Water’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 6 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 68,200 people · Water system ID MT0000294 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · range ND to 2 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2025 report, page 5 | 2 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal500x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | 2 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal10x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 2.8 · Wells (PFAS baseline) · 2025 report, page 6 | 2.8 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal400x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 3.5 · Wells (PFAS baseline) · 2025 report, page 6 | 3.5 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal3.5x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range ND to 1.2 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 5 | 1.2 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Uraniumhighest measured · range 1.2 to 1.3 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 5 | 1.3 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal2.2x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.18 to 0.48 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.48 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.4 to 1 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.5 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.2 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest measured · range 0.29 to 0.48 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.48 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest measured · range 1.3 to 3.3 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 5 | 3.3 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range ND to 0.2 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.2 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.34 to 3.11 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2025 report, page 5 | 3.11 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrite (as N)highest measured · range ND to 0.01 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.01 ppm | 1 ppm | 1 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lithiumhighest measured · range ND to 15 · Wells (UCMR5) · 2025 report, page 6 | 15 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Missoula Water’s water between Apr 2023 and Jan 2026. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium15 ppbFound in 6 of 46 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Radium and uranium
Found: Radium (combined 226 + 228), Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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