Is there PFAS in Missoula Water water?
No PFAS were detected in any of the 46 samples EPA's program collected.
Missoula Water is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Missoula, Montana, serving about 68,200 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 46 times across 23 sampling points between Apr 2023 and Jan 2026.
Every PFAS detected
None of the 29 PFAS were found at or above EPA's minimum reporting levels (2 to 20 ppt depending on the compound).
Not detected: NFDHA, PFPeS, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFPeA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFHxA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFHpS, PFTrDA, PFOA, NMeFOSAA, PFTA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS, NEtFOSAA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 15 ppb, detected in 6 of 46 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
No PFAS action is needed on these results. If your water tastes or smells of chlorine, a whole-house city water filter is the usual fix.
Other systems in Montana
- City of Great Falls none detected
- City of Bozeman none detected
- Butte Silverbow Water Dept none detected
- Helena Water System none detected
- Kalispell Public Works 2 PFAS detected
- City of Billings none detected
All 45 tested systems in Montana
ZIP codes served
59801 59802 59803 59806 59807 59808 59812
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Missoula Water water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID MT0000294. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/montana/missoula-water/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID MT0000294). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.