Helena Water System

PFAS monitoring results for a public water system in Montana

MT0000241UCMR 5EPA monitoring data
<MRLHighest PFOA result, ppt
<MRLHighest PFOS result, ppt
0Highest Hazard Index
270Results
PWSID
MT0000241
State
Montana
System type
community water system (CWS)
Population served
32,091
City
Helena
Counties
Lewis and Clark County
Primary source water
surface water
UCMR 5 sampling
2023-07-19 to 2024-06-13 · 3 entry point(s) · water types: GW;SW
Service-area boundary
authoritative

No PFAS detected highest single result
No PFAS detected worst entry-point average

These are monitoring results collected under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) at entry points, where treated water enters the distribution system; they are not tap-water samples. They are not compliance determinations: compliance with EPA's 2024 PFAS limits is judged on running annual averages of compliance monitoring, required from 2029, so a single UCMR 5 result at or above a limit is not a violation. “< MRL” means the compound was not quantified at EPA's minimum reporting level; it does not mean zero.

Compared with EPA's 2024 values

Highest single resultWorst entry-point average*Limit
PFOA (ppt)<MRL04
PFOS (ppt)<MRL04
Hazard Index001.0†

“<MRL” = every result for the compound was below its reporting limit. * Mean of all samples at each entry point with non-detects = 0 (EPA compliance convention; the Hazard Index also uses non-detects = 0); a screening comparison, not a formal running annual average. † Rescission proposed May 2026. PFOA/PFOS MCL 4 ppt (2024 NPDWR, in effect). PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (10 ppt each) and the Hazard Index (1.0) are 2024 NPDWR values; EPA proposed rescinding them on 18 May 2026 (comment period closed 20 Jul 2026).

No Montana PFAS drinking-water standard in effect or proposed as of 2026-10-17: No state PFAS drinking-water standard; follows federal NPDWR (BCLP state survey, Jan 2026).

Sampling history

Sampled 2023-07-19 to 2024-06-13 · 3 entry point(s) · water types: GW;SW · 13 sampling visits. PFAS in ppt (ng/L).

DateEntry pointEventPFOAPFOSHIOther detections
2023-07-19Eureka Well TP (GW)SE1<4<40none
2023-07-19Missouri WTP (SW)SE1<4<40lithium 78 µg/L
2023-07-19Ten Mile SWTP Intake (SW)SE1<4<40none
2023-10-04Missouri WTP (SW)SE2<4<40none
2023-10-04Ten Mile SWTP Intake (SW)SE2n/an/an/anone
2023-10-11Missouri WTP (SW)SE2n/an/an/alithium 58 µg/L
2023-11-15Ten Mile SWTP Intake (SW)SE2<4<40none
2024-02-21Eureka Well TP (GW)SE2<4<40none
2024-02-21Ten Mile SWTP Intake (SW)SE3<4<40none
2024-05-08Missouri WTP (SW)SE4n/an/an/alithium 62 µg/L
2024-05-08Ten Mile SWTP Intake (SW)SE4n/an/an/anone
2024-06-13Missouri WTP (SW)SE4<4<40none
2024-06-13Ten Mile SWTP Intake (SW)SE4<4<40none

“<4” = not detected at the reporting limit shown; “n/a” = not analyzed in that sample. Highlighted = at or above the 4 ppt MCL. HI computed per sample with non-detects as 0. Other detections lists every other quantified compound (lithium in µg/L).

All results by entry point

270 results. Each column is one sampling visit (date and UCMR 5 sample event). A number is a measured concentration; “< 4” = below the minimum reporting level shown; “–” = not analyzed in that visit. PFAS in ppt (ng/L); lithium in µg/L.

Eureka Well TP facility 00001 · sample point EP505 · groundwater

CompoundMRL2023-07-19
SE1
2024-02-21
SE2
11Cl-PF3OUdS5 ppt< 5< 5
4:2 FTS3 ppt< 3< 3
6:2 FTS5 ppt< 5< 5
8:2 FTS5 ppt< 5< 5
9Cl-PF3ONS2 ppt< 2< 2
ADONA3 ppt< 3< 3
HFPO-DA5 ppt< 5< 5
NEtFOSAA5 ppt< 5< 5
NFDHA20 ppt< 20< 20
NMeFOSAA6 ppt< 6< 6
PFBA5 ppt< 5< 5
PFBS3 ppt< 3< 3
PFDA3 ppt< 3< 3
PFDoA3 ppt< 3< 3
PFEESA3 ppt< 3< 3
PFHpA3 ppt< 3< 3
PFHpS3 ppt< 3< 3
PFHxA3 ppt< 3< 3
PFHxS3 ppt< 3< 3
PFMBA3 ppt< 3< 3
PFMPA4 ppt< 4< 4
PFNA4 ppt< 4< 4
PFOA4 ppt< 4< 4
PFOS4 ppt< 4< 4
PFPeA3 ppt< 3< 3
PFPeS4 ppt< 4< 4
PFTA8 ppt< 8< 8
PFTrDA7 ppt< 7< 7
PFUnA2 ppt< 2< 2
lithium9 µg/L< 9< 9

Missouri WTP facility 00002 · sample point EP502 · surface water

CompoundMRL2023-07-19
SE1
2023-10-04
SE2
2023-10-11
SE2
2024-05-08
SE4
2024-06-13
SE4
11Cl-PF3OUdS5 ppt< 5< 5––< 5
4:2 FTS3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
6:2 FTS5 ppt< 5< 5––< 5
8:2 FTS5 ppt< 5< 5––< 5
9Cl-PF3ONS2 ppt< 2< 2––< 2
ADONA3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
HFPO-DA5 ppt< 5< 5––< 5
NEtFOSAA5 ppt< 5< 5–< 5–
NFDHA20 ppt< 20< 20––< 20
NMeFOSAA6 ppt< 6< 6–< 6–
PFBA5 ppt< 5< 5––< 5
PFBS3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFDA3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFDoA3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFEESA3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFHpA3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFHpS3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFHxA3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFHxS3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFMBA3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFMPA4 ppt< 4< 4––< 4
PFNA4 ppt< 4< 4––< 4
PFOA4 ppt< 4< 4––< 4
PFOS4 ppt< 4< 4––< 4
PFPeA3 ppt< 3< 3––< 3
PFPeS4 ppt< 4< 4––< 4
PFTA8 ppt< 8< 8–< 8–
PFTrDA7 ppt< 7< 7–< 7–
PFUnA2 ppt< 2< 2––< 2
lithium9 µg/L78–5862–

Ten Mile SWTP Intake facility 00003 · sample point EP504 · surface water

CompoundMRL2023-07-19
SE1
2023-10-04
SE2
2023-11-15
SE2
2024-02-21
SE3
2024-05-08
SE4
2024-06-13
SE4
11Cl-PF3OUdS5 ppt< 5–< 5< 5–< 5
4:2 FTS3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
6:2 FTS5 ppt< 5–< 5< 5–< 5
8:2 FTS5 ppt< 5–< 5< 5–< 5
9Cl-PF3ONS2 ppt< 2–< 2< 2–< 2
ADONA3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
HFPO-DA5 ppt< 5–< 5< 5–< 5
NEtFOSAA5 ppt< 5< 5–< 5< 5–
NFDHA20 ppt< 20–< 20< 20–< 20
NMeFOSAA6 ppt< 6< 6–< 6< 6–
PFBA5 ppt< 5–< 5< 5–< 5
PFBS3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFDA3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFDoA3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFEESA3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFHpA3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFHpS3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFHxA3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFHxS3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFMBA3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFMPA4 ppt< 4–< 4< 4–< 4
PFNA4 ppt< 4–< 4< 4–< 4
PFOA4 ppt< 4–< 4< 4–< 4
PFOS4 ppt< 4–< 4< 4–< 4
PFPeA3 ppt< 3–< 3< 3–< 3
PFPeS4 ppt< 4–< 4< 4–< 4
PFTA8 ppt< 8< 8–< 8< 8–
PFTrDA7 ppt< 7< 7–< 7< 7–
PFUnA2 ppt< 2–< 2< 2–< 2
lithium9 µg/L< 9< 9–< 9< 9–

Statistics by compound

CompoundResultsDetectedHighest (date)Mean boundsKM medianP75P90P95
lithium933%78
2023-07-19
22–28<MRL587878

Never detected (29): 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, NEtFOSAA, NFDHA, NMeFOSAA, PFBA, PFBS, PFDA, PFDoA, PFEESA, PFHpA, PFHpS, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFMBA, PFMPA, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA, PFPeS, PFTA, PFTrDA, PFUnA.

Left-censored Kaplan–Meier statistics (Helsel 2005; Helsel & Lee 2006, NADA for R). Units: ppt; lithium µg/L. Each compound has one reporting limit, so the Kaplan–Meier mean equals the upper mean bound (non-detects at the MRL); the lower bound sets non-detects to 0. “<MRL” = the percentile falls below the reporting limit and cannot be estimated. These describe this system's UCMR 5 samples, not population estimates.

Sources

  • EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data text files (UCMR5_All.txt; samples 2023-01-09 to 2026-02-09; data summary dated Jul 2026)
  • EPA SDWIS via ECHO SDWA downloads, quarter 2026Q3
  • EPA Public Water System Service Areas v3 (Mar 2026)
  • US Census Bureau cartographic boundary counties 1:500k, 2024
  • EPA/USGS NHDPlus V2 (medium resolution) flowlines, Strahler order 2+

Data build 4c7299147c58 · 2026-10-18T04:04Z · UCMR 5 release Jul2026 · SDWIS 2026Q3. Data and methods.