Glacier County, Montana — public water systems

How does Glacier County compare with other Montana counties?

Glacier County has the 19th-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 10,757 people served in total, the 16th-largest county figure in the state and 0.9% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 398 people, about 18% 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 Glacier County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Glacier County's active systems draw on groundwater (19, 70%), surface water (4, 15%), purchased surface water (3, 11%) and purchased groundwater (1, 3.7%). Overall, 74% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 26% 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, City of Cut Bank, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Glacier County?

Glacier County's active systems break down as 12 community systems (44%) and 15 transient non-community systems (56%). 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 (52%), federal government (33%), local government (7.4%) and public/private partnership (3.7%).