The City of Helena's drinking water is received from mountain reservoirs, streams and nearby rivers. Before we can drink and use it, it must be treated. The Water Treatment Division’s goals are to maintain the highest standards for water treatment while choosing a cost effective means to meet future standards. Supply customers with the highest quality potable water possible while keeping the water costs down. Investigate and implement practical and cost effective methods to treat the water looking at new and old technology.
The Water Treatment Division has a variety of duties to perform to acquire, treat and supply water culminating at the consumer's water tap. This requires the Water Treatment Division to work co-operatively with regulatory groups, environmental groups, and the public.
The City of Helena has been notified that recent testing of our drinking water revealed a violation of a drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency, it is important that the community is aware. Utility billing customers will receive a notice of the drinking water quality violation in their April 2023 statement. The City has also created a page on Be Heard Helena to share additional information on the situation, and provide a way for residents to ask questions. Please visit https://beheardhelena.com/water-quality-notice to learn more.
In 2021, the Citizen Conservation Board created the Water Wise Helena brochure; a practical guide to understanding water in the Helena area. The brochure includes tips to save on water, time and money.
Water Wise Helena Brochure(PDF, 55MB)
By conserving water and using it wisely you pay less. Not only will your monthly bill be lower but you can reduce the size of future water production costs, reducing everyone's costs. Below we have listed several tips to help you conserve water.
Water rates for the City of Helena are established through resolution each fiscal year. The water rates for FY22 were adopted by the Commission on June 28, 2021.
View FY22 Water Rates(PDF, 20KB)
Click Here to View 2023 Water Use(PDF, 19KB)
Click Here to View 2022 Water Use(PDF, 20KB)
Each year the City of Helena provides a Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report that is mailed to utility customers and made available through the City website. This report informs water customers about the quality of water produced and distributed through the City of Helena Water Treatment Program (ID # MT0000241) in 2022. If you have questions about this report or are interested in learning more about your drinking water system, please contact the Water Treatment Program at 406-457-8511.
View the 2022 Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report(PDF, 390KB)