Public water system · MT0000353
ActiveVirginia City Water Dept
At a glance
Virginia City Water Dept (PWSID MT0000353) is an active community water system in Madison County, Montana. It reports serving 1,500 people through 248 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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,500
Service connections
248
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Virginia City Water Dept compare with other water systems in Madison County?
By EPA's size categories, Virginia City Water Dept is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Madison County has 45 active public water systems, and Virginia City Water Dept is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 4.7 times the county average of 320 people per system, and accounts for 10% of the 14,392 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 Virginia City Water Dept 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 Virginia City Water Dept?
EPA lists Virginia City Water Dept 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 45 active systems in Madison County (16%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Virginia City Water Dept have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2025. The violations listed here began between June 2023 and November 2025. By type: 5 required treatment not met, 5 monitoring and reporting, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 monitoring. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Groundwater Rule (10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2025-10-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2025-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-03-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR) · code 31 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-11-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR) · code 31 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR) · code 31 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-02-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-08-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR) · code 31 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Unfilt/GWR) · code 31 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | 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.
Virginia City Water Dept: frequently asked questions
Who runs Virginia City Water Dept?
Virginia City Water Dept (PWSID MT0000353) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MT state drinking water program.
How many people does Virginia City Water Dept serve?
Virginia City Water Dept reports serving 1,500 people through 248 service connections in Madison County, Montana.
Where does Virginia City Water Dept 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 Virginia City Water Dept have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2025. 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 Virginia City Water Dept'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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in November 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Virginia City Water Dept's water quality report?
As a community water system, Virginia City Water Dept 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 Madison County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky County Water and Sewer Dist 363 | Madison | 4,132 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ennis Town of | Madison | 1,400 | Community | Groundwater |
| Sheridan Town of | Madison | 632 | Community | Groundwater |
| Nevada City | Madison | 621 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Earthquake Lake Visitor Center | Madison | 503 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Ennis S Raynolds Pass Rest Area | Madison | 500 | 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, “Virginia City Water Dept, PWSID MT0000353, Montana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/montana/virginia-city-water-dept-mt0000353 (data as of October 1, 2026).