Silver Bow County, MT
These figures come from wells tested in Silver Bow County, MT, not from any one well.
- Iron, manganese and sulfate are not common in wells in Silver Bow County, MT (0 of 13, 1 of 13 and 2 of 43 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Silver Bow County, MT are typically moderately hard (43 wells tested).
- Only a test of your own well tells you about your water.
What to test for
Start with the four this site covers:
- iron
- manganese
- hardness
- sulfate
Most well owners also test for these. We point to the source and don't interpret the results.
- arsenic: occurs naturally in groundwater in many regions. USGS: arsenic and drinking water
- nitrate: common near farmland and septic systems. EPA: private drinking water wells
- total coliform bacteria: the standard yearly well check. EPA: private drinking water wells
- lead and copper: from household plumbing, especially when pH is below 6.5. EPA: lead in drinking water
- PFAS: several states run private-well sampling programs. EPA: PFAS
- a certified lab: states certify labs and some run their own private-well programs. Montana's certified-lab list (from your state drinking-water program)
The numbers
County figures describe the wells sampled there, not any one well. Exact counts, sample years and sources are below.
Iron Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.3 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 0.0% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 0 of 13 |
| Median | 0.0051 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 2009–2010 |
| Wells | 13 |
| Test results | 18 |
| Wells left out | 28 |
| Sources | USGS (13) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 7.7% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 1 of 13 |
| Median | 0.00034 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 2009–2010 |
| Wells | 13 |
| Test results | 18 |
| Wells left out | 28 |
| Sources | USGS (13) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 16% |
| Median | 112 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1966–2010 |
| Wells | 43 |
| Test results | 48 |
| Wells left out | 28 |
| Sources | USGS (43) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 4.7% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 43 |
| Median | 37 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1966–2010 |
| Wells | 43 |
| Test results | 48 |
| Wells left out | 28 |
| Sources | USGS (43) |