Public water system · MT0000463
ActiveBig Timber City of
At a glance
City of Big Timber (PWSID MT0000463) is an active community water system in Sweet Grass County, Montana. It reports serving 1,650 people through 972 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2014.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,650
Service connections
972
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Big Timber compare with other water systems in Sweet Grass County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Big Timber is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Sweet Grass County has 16 active public water systems, and City of Big Timber is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 3.6 times the county average of 457 people per system, and accounts for 23% of the 7,304 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Montana, the 2,378 active systems average 489 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so City of Big Timber is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Montana has 853 active community water systems, 36% of the state's 2,378 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 60 Montana systems (2.5%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Big Timber?
EPA lists City of Big Timber as owned by a local government. The MT state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 1 of the 16 active systems in Sweet Grass County (6.3%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Big Timber have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2014. The violations listed here began between January 2002 and October 2014. By type: 8 monitoring and reporting, 2 required treatment not met and 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (3 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-10-22 | Required treatment not metFailure to Filter (SWTR) · code 42 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2013-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-12-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2006-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | No | Resolved |
| 2003-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2003-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipatecode 2035 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Aldicarb sulfonecode 2044 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Dalaponcode 2031 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chlordanecode 2959 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
City of Big Timber: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Big Timber?
City of Big Timber (PWSID MT0000463) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MT state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Big Timber serve?
City of Big Timber reports serving 1,650 people through 972 service connections in Sweet Grass County, Montana.
Where does City of Big Timber get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does City of Big Timber have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2014. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is City of Big Timber's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 2 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2014. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MT state drinking water program.
Where can I find City of Big Timber's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Big Timber must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Sweet Grass County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greycliff Rest Area Eastbound | Sweet Grass | 2,500 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Greycliff Rest Area Westbound | Sweet Grass | 1,000 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Big Timber Koa | Sweet Grass | 600 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Stillwater East Boulder | Sweet Grass | 380 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Town Pump 1033 Big Timber # 2 | Sweet Grass | 318 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Clydehurst Christian Ranch | Sweet Grass | 175 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Big Timber City of, PWSID MT0000463, Montana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/montana/big-timber-city-of-mt0000463 (data as of October 1, 2026).