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Community Water System · PWS MT0000259

Kalispell Public Works

Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 25,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

25,000
People served
224
EPA violations
3
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 224 drinking-water violations at Kalispell Public Works, 1% of them health-based - above the Montana per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

224
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
25,000
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Kalispell Public Works

Kalispell Public Works is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 25,000 residents in Kalispell, Montana (Flathead County) through 9,277 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 224 total violations for this system , of which 3 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 215 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2020.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, recorded in 8 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.6 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Montana, EPA tracks 2,263 public water systems serving 1,112,267 people, with 297,270 cumulative violations and 25,922 health-based violations on record. About 95% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 131.4 violations. Statewide, 28 of 45 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (62.2%).

Kalispell Public Works's 224 violations sit above the Montana average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

2 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
25,000
Total Violations
224
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
9,277
County
Flathead
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
3
Monitoring Violations
215
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 8 2020
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 8 2020
Arsenic MR 7 2008
Coliform (TCR) MR 6 1997
Fluoride MR 4 2008
Endrin MR 4 2020
BHC-GAMMA MR 4 2020
Toxaphene MR 4 2020
Dalapon MR 4 2020
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 4 2020
OXAMYL MR 4 2020
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 4 2020
Picloram MR 4 2020
LASSO MR 4 2020
Heptachlor MR 4 2020
2,4-D MR 4 2020
2,4,5-TP MR 4 2020
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 4 2020
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 4 2020
Pentachlorophenol MR 4 2020
Methoxychlor MR 4 2020
Atrazine MR 4 2020
Heptachlor epoxide MR 4 2020
Simazine MR 4 2020
Chlordane MR 4 2020
Dinoseb MR 4 2020
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2008
Carbofuran MR 4 2020
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 4 2020
Barium MR 3 2008

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 3 of 464 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFHpA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/18/2023 3.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFBS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/18/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/18/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/18/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/18/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/18/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/18/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/18/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Kalispell Public Works.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID MT0000259 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Montana Drinking Water Authority

Montana's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find MT regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2020 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 8 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 4000
2020 Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 8 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 4010
2020 Endrin MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2005
2020 BHC-GAMMA MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2010
2020 Toxaphene MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2020
2020 Dalapon MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2031
2020 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2035
2020 OXAMYL MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2036
2020 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2039
2020 Picloram MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2040
2020 LASSO MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2051
2020 Heptachlor MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2065
2020 2,4-D MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2105
2020 2,4,5-TP MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2110
2020 HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 4 SDWIS / MT0000259 / 2274

How Kalispell Public Works Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Kalispell Public Works Montana avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 224 131.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 11.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 2 compounds 62.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 25,000 492 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 2,263 regulated public water systems in Montana.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kalispell Public Works water safe to drink? ▼
Kalispell Public Works (PWS ID: MT0000259) has 224 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 25,000 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Kalispell Public Works serve? ▼
Kalispell Public Works serves 25,000 people in Kalispell, Montana. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 9,277 service connections.
What type of violations does Kalispell Public Works have? ▼
Kalispell Public Works has 224 total violations: 3 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 215 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Kalispell Public Works water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Kalispell Public Works's water supply: PFHxS, PFOS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Kalispell Public Works use? ▼
Kalispell Public Works uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.