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City water profile

Great Falls water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Great Falls, Montana.

Median indexed hardness

164PPM

3 indexed ZIPs

Range 21.7–164 PPM

State comparison
42 PPM above
State hardness rank
#49 of 117
Matched utilities
10
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Great Falls has 3 published ZIP profiles across Cascade County. The indexed median is 164 PPM, compared with 122 PPM across Montana.

Among the 117 Montanacities with an indexed median, Great Falls ranks #49from highest to lowest. Across all 145 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 0.2to 799.5 PPM.

The 21.7–164 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft1 ZIP
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard2 ZIPs
Very hard0 ZIPs

3 of 3 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
52.3 miles
Profiles with evidence
3/3

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 3

Observation window: May 10, 2016 to Sep 18, 2024.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Great Falls

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

59401

Hard

164 PPM

Nearest site
52.3 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

59404

Hard

164 PPM

Nearest site
60.9 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

59405

Soft

21.7 PPM

Nearest site
38.7 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Great Falls City Of

PWSID MT0000525

Surface water
System population served
60,000
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Malmstrom Air Force Base

PWSID MT0000515

Surface water
System population served
8,850
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Sun Prairie Village County

PWSID MT0000521

Groundwater
System population served
1,800
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Prairie Water Company

PWSID MT0003539

Surface water
System population served
1,000
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Countryside Village Mhp Grt Fls

PWSID MT0004830

Surface water
System population served
600
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Gore Hill County Water Dist

PWSID MT0000232

Groundwater
System population served
500
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Bushard Water Company

PWSID MT0005164

Surface water
System population served
425
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Highwood Mobile Home Park

PWSID MT0004681

Surface water
System population served
400
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Sun Prairie Water District

PWSID MT0000571

Groundwater
System population served
350
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Great Falls Rv Park

PWSID MT0000027

Surface water
System population served
274
Last reported
Jun 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Revised Total Coliform RuleMT0005164Dec 1, 2025Resolved
E. COLIMT0000232Jul 22, 2025Resolved
Revised Total Coliform RuleMT0000028Jul 1, 2025Resolved
Consumer Confidence RuleMT0000028Jul 1, 2025Resolved
Revised Total Coliform RuleMT0000028Jun 1, 2025Resolved
Nitrate-NitriteMT0000571Jan 1, 2025Resolved
Nitrate-NitriteMT0000028Jan 1, 2025Resolved
Nitrate-NitriteMT0004261Jan 1, 2025Resolved
Nitrate-NitriteMT0004419Jan 1, 2025Resolved
Lead and Copper RuleMT0003539Dec 30, 2024Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Great Falls

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 164 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.