Public water system · MT0003277
ActiveWards Cove Water Users
At a glance
Wards Cove Water Users (PWSID MT0003277) is an active community water system in Ravalli County, Montana. It reports serving 45 people through 17 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as privately owned. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2015.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
45
Service connections
17
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Wards Cove Water Users compare with other water systems in Ravalli County?
By EPA's size categories, Wards Cove Water Users is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Ravalli County has 130 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 237 people per system, and accounts for 0.1% of the 30,805 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 Wards Cove Water Users 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 Wards Cove Water Users?
EPA lists Wards Cove Water Users as privately owned. 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. 112 of the 130 active systems in Ravalli County (86%) are also privately owned.
Does Wards Cove Water Users have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2015. The violations listed here began between January 2002 and December 2015. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 2 required treatment not met, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-09-01 | Required treatment not metPublic Education · code 65 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-03-24 | Required treatment not metOCCT/SOWT Study/Recommendation · code 57 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2005-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2004-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Endrincode 2005 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | 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.
Wards Cove Water Users: frequently asked questions
Who runs Wards Cove Water Users?
Wards Cove Water Users (PWSID MT0003277) is a community water system privately owned. It is regulated by the MT state drinking water program.
How many people does Wards Cove Water Users serve?
Wards Cove Water Users reports serving 45 people through 17 service connections in Ravalli County, Montana.
Where does Wards Cove Water Users 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 Wards Cove Water Users have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2015. 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 Wards Cove Water Users' 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, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2015. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MT state drinking water program.
Where can I find Wards Cove Water Users' water quality report?
As a community water system, Wards Cove Water Users 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 Ravalli County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton City of | Ravalli | 5,660 | Community | Groundwater |
| Stevensville Town of | Ravalli | 2,090 | Community | Groundwater |
| Super One Food Store | Ravalli | 1,769 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Town Pump Woodside 1 | Ravalli | 1,198 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Town Pump Florence 1 | Ravalli | 1,092 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Florence Carlton School | Ravalli | 1,025 | Non-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, “Wards Cove Water Users, PWSID MT0003277, Montana”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/montana/wards-cove-water-users-mt0003277 (data as of October 1, 2026).