Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
BILLINGS CITY OF
BILLINGS CITY OF delivers tap water graded D (58/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 114,000 residents in BILLINGS, Montana using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 406-657-8349.
Is BILLINGS tap water safe to drink?
BILLINGS CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (58/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including arsenic significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 114,000 residents in BILLINGS, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Bromochloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for BILLINGS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for BILLINGS CITY OF.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 5.0 ppb, 1250x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 50.9 ppb, 849x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 33.3 ppb, 333x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact BILLINGS CITY OF
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for BILLINGS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 58/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.0 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1250× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
50.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 849× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
33.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 333× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
41.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 278× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
19.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 190× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.59 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 143× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.49 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 125× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
31.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
13.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 66× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.77 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.468 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.131 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.6× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.36 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.6× over |
| Vanadium Other |
0.83 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
3.91 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.53 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
16.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.667 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.614 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.307 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.083 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.533 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
43.5 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
BILLINGS CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Yellowstone County, Montana. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BILLINGS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.