What was found in Browning'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-Nitrite | 2542.5 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM · 56 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 2520 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM · 56 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 923 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: BLACKFEET DORM. WATER SYSTEM · 66 people · 2017 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 151 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 376 µg/L — TWO MEDICINE WATER - EAST GLACIER · 1,504 people · 2018 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 340 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: STARR SCHOOL WATER SYSTEM · 250 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 51 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 59.2 µg/L — SEVILLE WATER SYSTEM · 300 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 50 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 49.4 µg/L 82% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 25.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 20.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 18.75 µg/L 125% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2018 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.8 µg/L — SEVILLE WATER SYSTEM · 300 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.02 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.69 µg/L — BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM · 56 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 9 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM · 56 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 8.76 pCi/L 58% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM · 56 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: TWO MEDICINE WATER - EAST GLACIER · 1,504 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.7365 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BLACKFEET DORM. WATER SYSTEM · 66 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 0.6290 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.6 µg/L — BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM · 56 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.52 pCi/L 50% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: TWO MEDICINE WATER - EAST GLACIER · 1,504 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.9 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM · 56 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.62 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Asbestos | 0.2000 MFL 2.9% of the EPA limit 7 MFL Highest in the city: BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM · 56 people · 2015 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF BROWNING · 4,671 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0030 mg/L — TWO MEDICINE WATER - EAST GLACIER · 1,504 people · 2024 | 8/8 | 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 Browning
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| TOWN OF BROWNING | 4,671 |
| TWO MEDICINE WATER - EAST GLACIER | 1,504 |
| BEDROCKBABB WATER SYSTEM | 645 |
| HEART BUTTE WATER SYSTEM | 400 |
| SEVILLE WATER SYSTEM | 300 |
| STARR SCHOOL WATER SYSTEM | 250 |
| BLACKFEET DORM. WATER SYSTEM | 66 |
| BLACKFOOT WATER SYSTEM | 56 |
Frequently asked questions about Browning tap water
Is Browning tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Browning. 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 Browning?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Browning, Montana to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Browning's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Browning include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, 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.