Public water system · MT0000197
ActiveDeer Lodge City of
At a glance
City of Deer Lodge (PWSID MT0000197) is an active community water system in Powell County, Montana. It reports serving 2,900 people through 1,464 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, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2021.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,900
Service connections
1,464
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Deer Lodge compare with other water systems in Powell County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Deer Lodge is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Powell County has 17 active public water systems, and City of Deer Lodge is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 8 times the county average of 364 people per system, and accounts for 47% of the 6,181 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 Deer Lodge is about 57% 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. 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 City of Deer Lodge?
EPA lists City of Deer Lodge 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 17 active systems in Powell County (5.9%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Deer Lodge have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2021. The violations listed here began between October 2010 and January 2021. By type: 8 monitoring and reporting, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Arsenic (5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Arseniccode 1005 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Arseniccode 1005 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2013-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | 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 Deer Lodge: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Deer Lodge?
City of Deer Lodge (PWSID MT0000197) 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 Deer Lodge serve?
City of Deer Lodge reports serving 2,900 people through 1,464 service connections in Powell County, Montana.
Where does City of Deer Lodge 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 City of Deer Lodge have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2021. 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 Deer Lodge'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, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2021. 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 Deer Lodge's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Deer Lodge 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 Powell County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana State Prison | Powell | 2,100 | Community | Groundwater |
| Avon Family Cafe | Powell | 305 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Rock Creek Cattle Company | Powell | 165 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Camp Mak-A-Dream | Powell | 115 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Trixis Antler Saloon | Powell | 105 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Hunters Alley Bar and Grill | Powell | 100 | 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, “Deer Lodge City of, PWSID MT0000197, Montana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/montana/deer-lodge-city-of-mt0000197 (data as of October 1, 2026).