Flathead County, Montana — public water systems

How does Flathead County compare with other Montana counties?

Flathead County has the 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 105,781 people served in total, the 4th-largest county figure in the state and 9.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 324 people, about 34% below 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 Flathead County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Flathead County's active systems draw on groundwater (293, 90%), purchased groundwater (26, 8%), surface water (6, 1.8%) and purchased surface water (2, 0.6%). Overall, 98% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 2.4% 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, Kalispell Public Works, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Flathead County?

Flathead County's active systems break down as 142 community systems (43%), 35 non-transient non-community systems (11%) and 150 transient non-community systems (46%). 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 non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. 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 (80%), local government (12%), federal government (6.1%) and state government (0.9%).