Water Hardness in Montana Cities

Water Hardness in Montana Cities

Water hardness in Montana, characterized by the amount of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium, can significantly differ among various cities across the state due to its varied geological landscapes. Situated in the Western U.S., Montana’s water hardness levels reflect the geological diversity within the state.

Across Montana, water hardness can range from moderately soft to very hard, depending on the geological makeup of the area and the source of the water supply. For example, regions with limestone bedrock, such as parts of central Montana and the northern Rocky Mountains, often have harder water due to the high mineral content. In contrast, areas with more sandstone or shale bedrock, such as the Yellowstone River Basin and parts of eastern Montana, may experience softer water.

The variation in water hardness throughout Montana influences not only the taste and aesthetics of the water but also the efficiency of soaps and detergents, plumbing maintenance, and the lifespan of appliances that utilize water. Given the state’s geological diversity, water hardness is not uniform, highlighting the need for localized water treatment solutions and ongoing monitoring of water quality.

In the provided data, the water hardness levels show substantial variations across different cities in Montana. Among the cities for which data is reported, the highest water hardness levels are recorded in Sidney and Shelby, with hardness levels of 515 ppm (30 gpg) and 498 ppm (29 gpg), respectively. Conversely, the city with the lowest recorded water hardness level is Hot Springs, reporting a hardness of 88 ppm (5 gpg).

City Hardness ppm (mg/L) Hardness gpg Information Source Notes
Billings 117 7 Link
Missoula 175 10 Link
Great Falls n/a n/a Link
Bozeman 104 6 Link
Butte-Silver Bow n/a n/a Link
Helena 128 7 Link
Kalispell 205 12 Link
Belgrade n/a n/a Link
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 90 5 Link “Moderately Hard” listed in CCR, used the median of the USGS standard range
Havre n/a n/a Link
Whitefish n/a n/a Link
Miles City n/a n/a Link
Livingston n/a n/a Link
Laurel n/a n/a Link
Sidney 515 30 Link
Lewistown n/a n/a Link
Columbia Falls 252 15 Link
Polson n/a n/a Link
Hamilton n/a n/a Link
Glendive n/a n/a Link
Dillon n/a n/a Link
Hardin n/a n/a Link
Glasgow n/a n/a Link
Shelby 498 29 Link
Cut Bank n/a n/a Link
Deer Lodge n/a n/a Link
Libby n/a n/a Link
Wolf Point n/a n/a Link
Conrad n/a n/a Link
Red Lodge n/a n/a Link
Ronan n/a n/a Link
Manhattan n/a n/a Link
Stevensville n/a n/a Link
Colstrip n/a n/a Link
Three Forks n/a n/a Link
East Helena n/a n/a Link
Townsend n/a n/a Link
Columbus n/a n/a Link
Malta n/a n/a Link
Baker n/a n/a Link
Roundup n/a n/a Link
Choteau n/a n/a Link
Big Timber n/a n/a Link
Plentywood n/a n/a Link
Forsyth n/a n/a Link
Fort Benton n/a n/a Link
Eureka n/a n/a Link
Thompson Falls n/a n/a Link
West Yellowstone n/a n/a Link
Boulder n/a n/a Link
Chinook n/a n/a Link
Plains n/a n/a Link
Harlowton n/a n/a Link
White Sulphur Springs n/a n/a Link
Whitehall n/a n/a Link
Scobey n/a n/a Link
Browning n/a n/a Link
Ennis n/a n/a Link
Superior n/a n/a Link
Fairview n/a n/a Link
Philipsburg n/a n/a Link
Chester n/a n/a Link
Pinesdale n/a n/a Link
Troy n/a n/a Link
Darby n/a n/a Link
St. Ignatius n/a n/a Link
Poplar n/a n/a Link No online CCR on MT state website. City doesn’t have its own website
Harlem n/a n/a Link
Fairfield n/a n/a Link
Culbertson n/a n/a Link
Sheridan n/a n/a Link
Bridger n/a n/a Link
Walkerville n/a n/a Link City doesn’t have water dept, and it’s not on EPA or Montana website. Could get from Butte, but nothing definitive
Cascade n/a n/a Link
Joliet n/a n/a Link
Big Sandy n/a n/a Link
Circle n/a n/a Link
Hot Springs 88 5 Link
Terry n/a n/a Link
Belt n/a n/a Link
Alberton n/a n/a Link
Valier n/a n/a Link
Broadus n/a n/a Link
Wibaux n/a n/a Link
Lodge Grass n/a n/a Link
Stanford n/a n/a Link
Fromberg n/a n/a Link
Ekalaka n/a n/a Link
Sunburst n/a n/a Link Report mentions they have a “hard water well” but doesn’t’ quantify
Jordan n/a n/a Link
Twin Bridges n/a n/a Link
Clyde Park n/a n/a Link
Nashua n/a n/a Link
Dutton n/a n/a Link
Drummond n/a n/a Link No online CCR, also not on the mt.gov site
Hysham n/a n/a Link
Bainville n/a n/a Link
Medicine Lake n/a n/a Link
Fort Peck n/a n/a Link
Ryegate n/a n/a Link
Top 100 Montana cities by population and their reported water hardness
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon

Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.

These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.

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