Public water system · MT0000262
ActiveBigfork County Water and Sewer
At a glance
Bigfork County Water and Sewer (PWSID MT0000262) is an active community water system in Flathead County, Montana. It reports serving 6,100 people through 1,551 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2015.
This page covers its drinking water system only; sewer and wastewater service are not part of EPA's drinking water records.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
6,100
Service connections
1,551
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bigfork County Water and Sewer compare with other water systems in Flathead County?
By EPA's size categories, Bigfork County Water and Sewer is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Flathead County has 327 active public water systems, and Bigfork County Water and Sewer is the 4th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 19 times the county average of 324 people per system, and accounts for 5.8% of the 105,781 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 Bigfork County Water and Sewer is roughly in line with 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 1,994 Montana systems (84%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bigfork County Water and Sewer?
EPA lists Bigfork County Water and Sewer 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. 38 of the 327 active systems in Flathead County (12%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bigfork County Water and Sewer have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2015. The violations listed here began between January 1996 and May 2015. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting and 5 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-05-14 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-03-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-02-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) · code 25 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1997-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1997-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) · code 25 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1997-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1996-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | 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.
Bigfork County Water and Sewer: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bigfork County Water and Sewer?
Bigfork County Water and Sewer (PWSID MT0000262) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MT state drinking water program.
How many people does Bigfork County Water and Sewer serve?
Bigfork County Water and Sewer reports serving 6,100 people through 1,551 service connections in Flathead County, Montana.
Where does Bigfork County Water and Sewer get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Bigfork County Water and Sewer have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2015. 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 Bigfork County Water and Sewer'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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2015. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bigfork County Water and Sewer's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bigfork County Water and Sewer 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 Flathead County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalispell Public Works | Flathead | 25,000 | Community | Groundwater |
| Whitefish City of | Flathead | 10,418 | Community | Surface water |
| Flathead County Water and Sewer | Flathead | 7,775 | Community | Groundwater |
| Columbia Falls City of | Flathead | 4,450 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ridge Run | Flathead | 3,500 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Glacier Park International Airport | Flathead | 2,680 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
Related pages
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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, “Bigfork County Water and Sewer, PWSID MT0000262, Montana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/montana/bigfork-county-water-and-sewer-mt0000262 (data as of October 1, 2026).