Lewis and Clark County, Montana — public water systems

How does Lewis and Clark County compare with other Montana counties?

Lewis and Clark County has the 4th-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 68,071 people served in total, the 6th-largest county figure in the state and 5.9% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 413 people, about 16% 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 Lewis and Clark County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Lewis and Clark County's active systems draw on groundwater (153, 93%), purchased surface water (11, 6.7%) and surface water (1, 0.6%). Overall, 93% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 7.3% 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, Helena Water System, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Lewis and Clark County?

Lewis and Clark County's active systems break down as 56 community systems (34%), 15 non-transient non-community systems (9.1%) and 94 transient non-community systems (57%). 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 (81%), federal government (9.7%), local government (6.1%) and state government (3%).