Valley County, Montana — public water systems

How does Valley County compare with other Montana counties?

Valley County has the 33rd-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 6,060 people served in total, the 33rd-largest county figure in the state and 0.5% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 466 people, roughly in line with 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 Valley County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Valley County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (7, 54%), groundwater (4, 31%) and surface water (2, 15%). Overall, 31% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 69% on surface water, compared with 89% and 11% across Montana. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, City of Glasgow, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Valley County?

Valley County's active systems break down as 8 community systems (62%), 2 non-transient non-community systems (15%) and 3 transient non-community systems (23%). 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 local government (62%), private (31%) and state government (7.7%).