Water Quality

At the University of Montana - Missoula there have been no contaminants detected in our water that exceed any federal or state drinking water standards in the last year. All primary (health related) and secondary (aesthetic) drinking water standards are being met.

UM Campus: Water Quality

The campus tap water supply is purchased from Mountain Water Company and is distributed on campus with a regulated Public Water Supply Distribution System (PWS). In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The federal Food and Drug Administration and DEQ regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are by‐products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas productions and mining activities.

The University PWS follows a program for assuring that the public health is maintained through a safe and adequate supply of drinking water. The Consumer Confidence report for Missoula drinking water and water monitoring test results from on campus taps can be found from links provided on this page.

To view water testing results for the University of Montana PWSID: MT0004204 use the DEQ link.

To view lead and copper monitoring test results use the Lead and Copper link.

To learn more about safe drinking water use the EPA link.