Public water system · MT0000344
ActiveTownsend City of
At a glance
City of Townsend (PWSID MT0000344) is an active community water system in Broadwater County, Montana. It reports serving 2,000 people through 864 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, none is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2022.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,000
Service connections
864
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Townsend compare with other water systems in Broadwater County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Townsend is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Broadwater County has 20 active public water systems, and City of Townsend is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 4.3 times the county average of 465 people per system, and accounts for 22% of the 9,301 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 Townsend 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 City of Townsend?
EPA lists City of Townsend 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 20 active systems in Broadwater County (5%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Townsend have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2022. The violations listed here began between January 1999 and June 2022. By type: 10 monitoring and reporting, 1 monitoring and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Nitrate-Nitrite (4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2021-10-13 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Asbestoscode 1094 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-12-10 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitrate-Nitritecode 1038 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1999-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Xylenes, Totalcode 2955 | 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 Townsend: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Townsend?
City of Townsend (PWSID MT0000344) 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 Townsend serve?
City of Townsend reports serving 2,000 people through 864 service connections in Broadwater County, Montana.
Where does City of Townsend 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 Townsend have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2022. 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 Townsend'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, none is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2022. 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 Townsend's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Townsend 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 Broadwater County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat Montana Bakery | Broadwater | 2,453 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Town Pump Three Forks 1 | Broadwater | 2,245 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Bridger Brewing Three Forks | Broadwater | 470 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Steer Inn Teasers Restaurant and Lounge | Broadwater | 233 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Canyon Ferry Lake Koa | Broadwater | 218 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Silos Junction | Broadwater | 205 | 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, “Townsend City of, PWSID MT0000344, Montana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/montana/townsend-city-of-mt0000344 (data as of October 1, 2026).