How does Helena's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Helena (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Helena Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

93 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Helena, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Helena	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Helena compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Helena, Montana	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Butte, Montana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Great Falls, Montana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Bozeman, Montana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Missoula, Montana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Helena compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Helena	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Helena's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 93 mg/LpH: 8.1

The City of Helena Utility Board provides drinking water to over 32,000 residents in Helena, Montana, the state capital in Lewis and Clark County. Sources include surface water from the Missouri River via the Tenmile intake and local groundwater from the Eureka Well, supplemented by other wells. Water is treated at the City of Helena Water Treatment Plant, serving areas from historic Last Chance Gulch to Helena Valley subdivisions and near Carroll College. Total dissolved solids average around 292 ppm, reflecting moderate mineralization from these mixed sources.

The Missouri River watershed drains the Northern Rockies, with headwaters in glaciated granitic and sedimentary terrains, picking up ions downstream through Paleozoic carbonate formations such as the Madison Limestone. Local Helena Valley groundwater resides in unconsolidated alluvial aquifers over Tertiary Fort Union sediments and Precambrian basement, with short flow paths limiting rock–water interaction. This geology yields a soft supply overall, with some mineral load from river sources but no extreme hardness from prolonged limestone contact.

As soft water, Helena's supply minimizes scale buildup, sparing hot water heaters, dishwashers, and fixtures from significant deposits. Soap lathers easily, reducing usage, and spotting on glassware is rare. No routine maintenance for hardness-related issues is needed; general filtration is advisable if concerned about other minerals. A water softener is not recommended. The supply meets EPA maximum contaminant levels; testing detects 10 contaminants including trihalomethanes, chromium-6, and chlorate, with 8 exceeding health advocacy guidelines despite legal compliance. Gross alpha radiation was detected up to 1770 pCi/L, below proposed MCLs. No PFAS data is available.

Geology & Source: Missouri River watershed and Helena Valley aquifers, Lewis and Clark County; Paleozoic limestone and dolomite (Madison Group) with Quaternary alluvium and Tertiary basin-fill sediments — river dilution and limited limestone contact yield soft supply

Other Montana Water Reports

Butte

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Great Falls

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Bozeman

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Missoula

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Helena's water safe to drink?

Yes. Helena's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Helena?

Helena's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Helena compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Helena (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Helena is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.