Big Horn County, Wyoming — public water systems

How does Big Horn County compare with other Wyoming counties?

Big Horn County has the 9th-most active public water systems among the 33 counties listed for active Wyoming systems in EPA records; among the 23 with 3 or more systems, the median has 27. Its systems report 10,387 people served in total, the 14th-largest county figure in the state and 1.6% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 371 people, about 56% below the Wyoming average of 838. 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 Big Horn County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Big Horn County's active systems draw on groundwater (16, 57%), purchased groundwater (7, 25%), purchased surface water (4, 14%) and surface water (1, 3.6%). Overall, 82% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 18% on surface water, compared with 83% and 17% across Wyoming. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Town of Lovell, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Big Horn County?

Big Horn County's active systems break down as 15 community systems (54%), 3 non-transient non-community systems (11%) and 10 transient non-community systems (36%). 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 (43%), private (32%), federal government (21%) and state government (3.6%).