Is Billings, MT Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Yes, Billings tap water is safe to drink. Hardness is low at 65 PPM, and no contaminants exceed health guidelines. Most homes here don't need treatment.
Hardness Scale: Where Billings Falls
0Slightly
60Moderate
120Hard
180Very Hard
250Extreme
400+
How Billings Compares
Billings's water is 53% softer than the national average of 138 PPM - ranking in the bottom 65% for hardness nationwide. Most homes here do not need a softener. Within Montana, it ranks #5 of 8 cities (12% below the state average of 74 PPM). Among mid-size cities (100k-200k), Billings ranks #132 of 189 for hardness.
What Billings's Water Means for Your Home
Hardness: 65 PPM - Low Concern
Billings's water is moderately hard at 65 PPM. You'll see some spotting on glassware and a film on shower doors over time, but it's not the kind of hardness that demands a full softener. A salt-free conditioner is worth considering if you have a tankless water heater or high-end fixtures.
Contaminants & Safety
Lead levels deserve attention. At 5 ppb, Billings is above the ideal of zero, though below the EPA action level of 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb in November 2027 under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). The lead typically comes from aging service lines or interior plumbing, not the treatment plant. A point-of-use filter certified for lead at the kitchen faucet is a practical safeguard, especially in older homes.
What's in the Treatment Process
Billings's surface water supply requires heavy chlorination to stay safe — but that creates a tradeoff. The treatment process generates disinfection byproducts: TTHMs at 41.6 ppb (52% of the legal limit, but 278x the EWG guideline) and HAA5 at 33.3 ppb (55% of the legal limit, but 333x the EWG guideline). These are within legal limits, but the EWG sets much tighter thresholds based on cancer-risk research. A whole-house activated carbon filter reduces both chlorine and byproducts.
Chromium-6 was detected at 0.131 ppb, which is 6.6x the EWG health guideline. There's no separate federal limit for chromium-6, only total chromium. A reverse osmosis system is the most effective removal method. All measurements are within federal legal limits. The EWG guidelines represent a more conservative, health-based standard.
| Contaminant | Detected | Health Guideline | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness (as CaCO₃) | 65 PPM | < 60 PPM | No federal limit | ✓ OK |
| Total Dissolved Solids | 106 PPM | < 300 PPM | 500 PPM | ✓ OK |
| PFAS (total) | 0 ppt | — | No total limit | ✓ ND |
| ↳ PFOA | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| ↳ PFOS | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| Lead | 5 ppb | 0 ppb (no safe level) | 15 ppb (10 ppb in 2027) | ✓ Low |
| Chlorine / Chloramine | 0.8 mg/L | Taste threshold ~1.0 | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ Normal |
| Nitrate | 0.36 mg/L | 5 mg/L | 10 mg/L | ✓ OK |
Recommendations for Billings Homes
How to Test Your Water in Billings
Lead enters water from your home's plumbing, not the treatment plant — so Billings's city-wide average of 5 ppb may not match your tap. Testing your specific faucet is the only way to know. Run cold water for 30 seconds before collecting a sample.
Free option: Request City of Billings's annual Consumer Confidence Report for official city-level data.
📊 Already Tested Your Water?
City averages miss neighborhood-level variation. Share your results to help your neighbors get better data.
We review every submission before publishing. Your ZIP is shown; your identity is not.
About Billings's Water Supply
Water Utility: City of Billings
Water Source: Yellowstone River (Surface Water)
Population Served: 114,000
Hardness: 65 PPM (3.8 grains per gallon)
Billings's drinking water comes from surface sources — Yellowstone River. Surface water requires more extensive treatment than groundwater, including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. This heavier chlorination is why disinfection byproducts tend to be higher in surface-supplied systems. On the upside, surface sources often deliver softer water than deep aquifers. The system serves 114,000 residents.
Water quality can vary by neighborhood and season. For your exact numbers, request City of Billings's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or test your own tap.
ZIP Codes Covered by This Report
This water quality data applies to all areas served by City of Billings in Billings, MT, including ZIP codes:
59001, 59002, 59006, 59007, 59008, 59010, 59013, 59014, 59015, 59019, 59022, 59024, 59026, 59028, 59029, 59031, 59032, 59034, 59035, 59037, 59038, 59039, 59041, 59044, 59046, 59054, 59055, 59057, 59058, 59059, 59063, 59064, 59066, 59067, 59068, 59069, 59070, 59071, 59072, 59073, 59074, 59075, 59076, 59077, 59078, 59079, 59083, 59084, 59087, 59088, 59101, 59102, 59103, 59104, 59105, 59106, 59107, 59108, 59111, 59112, 59114, 59115, 59116, 59117, 59312, 59318, 59322, 59327, 59337, 59347, 59441, 59453, 82412, 82414, 82420, 82421, 82423, 82431, 82435, 82440, 82450
If your ZIP code is listed above, this report covers your water supply. Water quality may vary slightly by neighborhood.
Compare Billings to Other Montana Cities
Frequently Asked Questions About Billings Water
Is Billings tap water safe to drink?
Where does Billings's water come from?
Do I need a water softener in Billings?
What is the hardness of Billings water in grains per gallon?
What are disinfection byproducts in Billings's water?
Is chromium-6 in Billings's water?
Can I drink Billings tap water straight from the faucet?
What water filter is best for Billings?
Data sources: Lead and copper data from EPA Safe Drinking Water Act LCR reporting. Contaminant data from utility-reported testing results. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025). Hardness from USGS and municipal reports. Data reflects system-level testing results and may not match your specific tap due to neighborhood plumbing, season, or recent utility changes. For your utility's latest results, request their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Our methodology. Last updated: 2026-02-24.