Deer Lodge County, Montana — public water systems

How does Deer Lodge County compare with other Montana counties?

Deer Lodge County has the 27th-most active public water systems among the 76 counties listed for active Montana systems in EPA records; among the 55 with 3 or more systems, the median has 16. Its systems report 9,588 people served in total, the 21st-largest county figure in the state and 0.8% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 599 people, about 23% above the Montana average of 489. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Deer Lodge County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Deer Lodge County's active systems draw on groundwater (13, 81%), purchased groundwater (2, 13%) and surface water (1, 6.3%). Overall, 94% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 6.3% on surface water, compared with 89% and 11% across Montana. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Anaconda Water Department, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Deer Lodge County?

Deer Lodge County's active systems break down as 6 community systems (38%) and 10 transient non-community systems (63%). 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. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (63%), state government (25%), local government (6.3%) and federal government (6.3%).