What was found in Billings's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 390 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16400 µg/L — ARROW CREEK TRAILER COURT · 75 people · 2017 | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 593 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15440 µg/L — ARROW CREEK TRAILER COURT · 75 people · 2019 | 20/46 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 550 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2300 µg/L — OAK RIDGE ESTATES · 200 people · 2019 | 16/46 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 282.1 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1394 µg/L — CRYSTAL SPRINGS WATER SYSTEM · 225 people · 2018 | 30/46 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 59.5 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 97.5 µg/L — COONEY ENTERPRISES · 50 people · 2017 | 7/46 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 57 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 85 µg/L — BLACK ROCK ESTATES SUBDIVISION · 75 people · 2024 | 4/46 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 70.8 µg/L 89% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 80.8 µg/L — DUCK CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK · 70 people · 2019 | 23/46 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 58 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 65.3 µg/L — DUCK CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK · 70 people · 2019 | 23/46 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 60.94 µg/L 102% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 62.35 µg/L — LOCKWOOD WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT · 5,900 people · 2019 | 23/46 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 35.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019 | 20/46 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 23.925 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26.2 µg/L — LOCKWOOD WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT · 5,900 people · 2019 | 22/46 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20.05 µg/L — DUCK CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK · 70 people · 2019 | 23/46 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 18.9 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: SKYCREST ESTATES SUBDIVISION · 235 people · 2019 | 14/46 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 0.7970 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.551 µg/L — HILLSIDE VILLAGE · 650 people · 2019 | 21/46 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 10.4 µg/L 69% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 13.6 µg/L — GRANITE PARK WATER ASSOCIATION · 250 people · 2017 | 29/46 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 12.99 pCi/L 87% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: ALDINGER ACRES SUBDIVISION · 100 people · 2013 | 11/46 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12 µg/L — SKYCREST ESTATES SUBDIVISION · 235 people · 2019 | 23/46 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 11 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: DUCK CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK · 70 people · 2019 | 1/46 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 7 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8 µg/L — DUCK CREEK MOBILE HOME PARK · 70 people · 2019 | 13/46 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.07 µg/L — EMERALD VIEW PARK · 320 people · 2019 | 12/46 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 5.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARROW CREEK TRAILER COURT · 75 people · 2019 | 12/46 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.9 µg/L — ALDINGER ACRES SUBDIVISION · 100 people · 2019 | 15/46 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.1 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: GRANITE PARK WATER ASSOCIATION · 250 people · 2017 | 1/46 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 2 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: BLUE GRASS WATER USERS ASSOCIATION · 60 people · 2018 | 2/46 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.8 pCi/L 36% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: SKYCREST ESTATES SUBDIVISION · 235 people · 2019 | 5/46 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.125 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.385 µg/L — HILLSIDE VILLAGE · 650 people · 2019 | 11/46 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0050 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BILLINGS CITY OF · 114,000 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0130 mg/L — RIVER GROVE ESTATES TR CT · 100 people · 2024 | 44/46 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Billings
Frequently asked questions about Billings tap water
Is Billings tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Billings. 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 Billings?
46 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Billings, Montana to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Billings's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Billings include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.