Is tap water safe in Richey?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Richey, MT?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 318 ppm (18.6 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 59259?

At 318 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Richey water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

318PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 318–318 PPM

State comparison: 196 PPM above
State hardness rank: #17 of 117
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Richey has 1 published ZIP profile across Dawson County. The indexed median is 318 PPM, compared with 122 PPM across Montana.

Among the 117 Montanacities with an indexed median, Richey ranks #17from highest to lowest. Across all 145 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 0.2to 799.5 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard1 ZIP

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 15.2 miles
Profiles with evidence: 1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 1Low: 0

Observation window: Jul 6, 2016 to Sep 25, 2024.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Richey

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

59259

Very Hard

318 PPM

Nearest site: 15.2 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Richey Town Of

PWSID MT0000316

Groundwater

System population served: 180
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.

Record	System	Period	Status
Revised Total Coliform Rule	MT0000316	May 1, 2025	Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule	MT0000316	Jul 1, 2022	Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule	MT0000316	Dec 30, 2021	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	MT0000316	Feb 1, 2021	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

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

Continue comparing

Other Montana communities

Culbertson

Roosevelt County

321 PPM median

Power

Teton County

314 PPM median

Bainville

Roosevelt County

328 PPM median

Circle

Mccone County

308 PPM median

Flaxville

Daniels County

308 PPM median

Fort Peck

Mccone County

307 PPM median

Search all 133 Montana cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Richey

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 318 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.