Public water system · MT0000247
ActiveHeron Community Water System
At a glance
Heron Community Water System (PWSID MT0000247) is an active community water system in Sanders County, Montana. It reports serving 84 people through 46 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, one is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2020.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
84
Service connections
46
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Heron Community Water System compare with other water systems in Sanders County?
By EPA's size categories, Heron Community Water System is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Sanders County has 44 active public water systems. Its population served is about 60% below the county average of 209 people per system, and accounts for 0.9% of the 9,212 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 Heron Community Water System is well 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 Heron Community Water System?
EPA lists Heron Community Water System 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. 7 of the 44 active systems in Sanders County (16%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Heron Community Water System have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2020. The violations listed here began between October 2007 and December 2020. By type: 11 monitoring and reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2012-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Arseniccode 1005 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Fluoridecode 1025 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | 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.
Heron Community Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Heron Community Water System?
Heron Community Water System (PWSID MT0000247) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MT state drinking water program.
How many people does Heron Community Water System serve?
Heron Community Water System reports serving 84 people through 46 service connections in Sanders County, Montana.
Where does Heron Community Water System 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 Heron Community Water System have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2020. 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 Heron Community Water System'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, one is health-based, and the most recent began in December 2020. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Heron Community Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Heron Community Water System 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 Sanders County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson Falls City of | Sanders | 1,950 | Community | Groundwater |
| Plains Town of | Sanders | 1,700 | Community | Groundwater |
| Hot Springs Municipal Water | Sanders | 600 | Community | Groundwater |
| One Stop | Sanders | 500 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Sanders County Harvest Foods | Sanders | 445 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Water Service Inc. Trout Creek | Sanders | 350 | 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, “Heron Community Water System, PWSID MT0000247, Montana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/montana/heron-community-water-system-mt0000247 (data as of October 1, 2026).