Great Falls, MT · PWSID MT0000525
City of Great Falls lead service lines
738 lead or galvanized lines to replace
City of Great Falls reported 156 lead and 582 galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines out of 22,210 in its inventory. That's about 1 in 30 lines. Another 5,383 (24%) are still listed as unknown material.
Ranks #1 of 87 Montana systems with confirmed lead lines, and #494 nationally.
3.3% of City of Great Falls's service lines are lead or galvanized requiring replacement. That's higher than the Montana average (1.1%) and about the same as the national average (3.1%).
- Lead 0.7%
- Galvanized (replace) 2.6%
- Unknown 24%
- Non-lead 72%
Total service lines reported: 22,210. Reported all required service line types. Population served: 60,000; 22,477 connections.
Lead test results
City of Great Falls's most recent 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2026–Jun 2026) was 12 ppb, below today's 15 ppb action level but above the 10 ppb level that takes effect November 1, 2027. This means 90% of homes sampled were at or below that level; individual homes, especially those with lead lines, can be higher.
Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported to EPA, in parts per billion. Dashed lines: 15 ppb action level and the 10 ppb level from November 1, 2027.
Progress since 2025 Q1
Reported lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines went from 738 in 2025 Q1 to 738 in 2026 Q3: no change. Lines of unknown material went from 5,383 to 5,383, no change.
Quarterly counts reported to EPA. A drop usually means lines were replaced or confirmed non-lead; a rise usually means more lines were identified. Replacement progress rankings.
Lead rule violations
EPA's data lists no Lead and Copper Rule violations for City of Great Falls since 2015. That covers testing, reporting, corrosion control and public notice requirements; it isn't a guarantee about any individual home.
Source: EPA SDWIS violation records for the Lead and Copper Rule.
Where the water comes from
City of Great Falls's main water source is surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs). It sells water to 17 other water systems: Black Eagle Cascade County Water Sewer, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Prairie Water Company, Great Falls RV Park, Missouri Meadows Community INC, Rivershore Community LLC, Highwood Mobile Home Park, Big Stack Estates, Big Sky Mobile Home Park, Shade Tree Mobile Park, Grandview Trailer Court, Rivers Edge Mobile Home Park GRT FLS, Countryside Village MHP GRT FLS, Cobblestone Court, The Falls Mobile Home Community, Bushard Water Company, High Plains H2o LLC.
Source: EPA SDWIS water system and facility records.
Check your own address
These counts cover the whole system. To see whether your line is lead, use the utility's address-level inventory. Utilities had to prepare one by October 16, 2024 and make it publicly accessible; systems serving more than 50,000 people must post it online.
No map yet? Do the 2-minute scratch and magnet test on the pipe where water enters your home.
Protect your drinking water now
If your line is lead, galvanized or unknown, filter water for drinking, cooking and baby formula. Use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead. Run cold water for a few minutes after it sits for hours, and never use hot tap water for cooking.
How to pick a lead-certified filter · How to test your water for lead
Getting the line replaced
EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require most systems to replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines by December 31, 2037. Ask City of Great Falls whether it replaces the private side for free or with a cost share before you hire anyone. If you want it done sooner, or your utility doesn't cover your side, a licensed plumber can quote it. What replacement costs.
County pages: Lead pipes in Cascade County
Cities served
ZIP codes served
ZIP codes whose center falls inside City of Great Falls's mapped service area (EPA service area boundaries). Neighboring utilities may serve parts of the same ZIP.
59401
Other water systems nearby
| System | Lead + galv. | Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| Black Eagle Cascade County Water Sewer | 1 | 2 |
| Town of Cascade | 112 | 1 |
| Town of Belt | 25 | 97 |
| Two Buttes Water Users Assn | 0 | 30 |
| Town of Neihart | 0 | 2 |
| Stockett Water and Sewer Dist | 0 | 49 |
| Tracy Water Users Corp | 15 | 64 |
| Pleasant Park Community INC | 28 | 16 |
Check another water system
Questions
Does City of Great Falls have lead pipes?
Yes. City of Great Falls reported 156 lead service lines and 582 galvanized lines that must be replaced, out of 22,210 total. 5,383 more are of unknown material.
How do I check if my home's service line is lead?
Look up your address on City of Great Falls's official service line inventory, which utilities must make publicly available. You can also scratch the pipe where it enters your home: lead is soft, dull gray, scratches to shiny silver and does not attract a magnet.
When will City of Great Falls replace lead service lines?
Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, most systems must replace lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement lines by December 31, 2037, starting from November 1, 2027. The rule is being challenged in court, so dates could change. Many utilities run free or cost-share programs now.
Has City of Great Falls had lead violations?
EPA's data shows no Lead and Copper Rule violations since 2015 for City of Great Falls.
Which water filters remove lead?
Use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction, or NSF/ANSI 58 for reverse osmosis. Check the certification on NSF's listings, not just the box.
Embed or cite this data
Local news sites, blogs and community groups can embed this card. It updates when EPA releases new data.
Citation: Lead Pipe Map, "City of Great Falls lead service lines," https://leadpipemap.com/mt/city-of-great-falls/. Source: EPA SDWIS service line inventory, 2026 Q3. Download the full dataset on the data page.