Is Missoula, MT Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Missoula tap water is legally compliant, but one contaminant exceeds health guidelines. Specifically: lead at 22 ppb (above the EPA action level of 15 ppb). A point-of-use filter is recommended for drinking and cooking water.
Hardness Scale: Where Missoula Falls
0Slightly
60Moderate
120Hard
180Very Hard
250Extreme
400+
How Missoula Compares
Missoula's water is 88% softer than the national average of 138 PPM - ranking in the bottom 96% for hardness nationwide. Most homes here do not need a softener. Within Montana, it ranks #8 of 8 cities (78% below the state average of 74 PPM). Among cities (50k-100k), Missoula ranks #249 of 258 for hardness.
What Missoula's Water Means for Your Home
Hardness: 16 PPM - Low Concern
Missoula's water is soft at just 16 PPM. That's good news for your plumbing, appliances, and skin. Scale buildup is a non-issue here, and a water softener would be a waste of money. Missoula is softer than 95% of US cities. If you're thinking about water treatment in Missoula, contaminant filtration is the place to invest.
Contaminants & Safety
Lead is the main concern here. At 22 ppb, Missoula's average is well above the health guideline of zero — there is no safe level of lead, especially for children. Lead typically enters your water from old pipes, not the source itself. Quick fix: run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking. Better fix: a certified lead-reduction filter (NSF/ANSI Standard 53) at your kitchen faucet. If your home was built before 1986, testing is strongly recommended.
What's in the Treatment Process
Chromium-6 is naturally present in Missoula's aquifer geology at 0.154 ppb — 7.7x the EWG health guideline. There's no federal legal limit for chromium-6 specifically (only total chromium), which is why EWG tracks it separately. 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) | 16 PPM | < 60 PPM | No federal limit | ✓ OK |
| Total Dissolved Solids | 48 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 | 22 ppb | 0 ppb (no safe level) | 15 ppb (10 ppb in 2027) | ⚠ Exceeds |
| Chlorine / Chloramine | 0.6 mg/L | Taste threshold ~1.0 | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ Normal |
| Nitrate | 0.788 mg/L | 5 mg/L | 10 mg/L | ✓ OK |
Recommended Filter for Missoula
Lead at 22 ppb exceeds the 15 ppb action level. A certified filter reduces these contaminants effectively.
How to Test Your Water in Missoula
Lead enters water from your home's plumbing, not the treatment plant — so Missoula's city-wide average of 22 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 Mountain Water's annual Consumer Confidence Report for official city-level data.
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About Missoula's Water Supply
Water Utility: Mountain Water
Water Source: Rattlesnake Creek, groundwater (Groundwater)
Population Served: 68,200
Hardness: 16 PPM (0.9 grains per gallon)
Missoula draws its drinking water from groundwater sources — Rattlesnake Creek, groundwater. Groundwater typically requires less treatment than surface water because the earth acts as a natural filter. The tradeoff: dissolved minerals from underground rock formations, which is why mineral content varies by aquifer depth and geology. The geological profile determines hardness, iron, and trace mineral levels. The system serves 68,000 residents.
Water quality can vary by neighborhood and season. For your exact numbers, request Mountain Water'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 Mountain Water in Missoula, MT, including ZIP codes:
59801, 59802, 59803, 59804, 59806, 59807, 59808, 59812, 59820, 59821, 59823, 59824, 59825, 59826, 59827, 59828, 59829, 59831, 59832, 59833, 59834, 59835, 59837, 59840, 59841, 59846, 59847, 59851, 59854, 59856, 59863, 59865, 59866, 59868, 59870, 59872, 59875
If your ZIP code is listed above, this report covers your water supply. Water quality may vary slightly by neighborhood.
Compare Missoula to Other Montana Cities
Frequently Asked Questions About Missoula Water
Is Missoula tap water safe to drink?
Where does Missoula's water come from?
Do I need a water softener in Missoula?
What water filter is best for Missoula?
Is Missoula water safe for babies and infants?
What are disinfection byproducts in Missoula's water?
Is chromium-6 in Missoula's water?
Can I drink Missoula tap water straight from the faucet?
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.
What Missoula Homeowners Actually Buy
Prioritized for contaminant reduction for homes with 16 PPM water.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission. Selection based on Missoula's water data.