A catastrophic water line failure at Montana State Prison (MSP) has exposed what advocates call a state-sanctioned humanitarian and public health crisis, rooted in over four decades of contamination, neglect, and state inaction.
According to official Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) records, MSP’s public water system (PWS ID: MT0000198) has a staggering 27 documented violations between 1981 and 2026. These include:
• Failure to monitor and treat for arsenic, asbestos, lead, heavy metals, and E. coli
• Lead and Copper Rule violations, including failure to notify the public when levels exceeded safety limits
• Repeated microbiological and chemical monitoring failures
• Confirmed contamination events within the active water distribution system
• No radiological testing since 2018, leaving inmates and staff potentially exposed to unsafe levels of alpha and beta particle radiation
The October 2025 main water line break caused catastrophic flooding in one housing unit, backed-up sewage throughout multiple areas, and a complete loss of running water. Toilets stopped flushing, sinks and showers ran dry, and staff were told not to drink the water — while incarcerated men were forced to rely on it for survival.
Emergency measures included porta-potties, portable showers, and a daily limit of seven bottled waters per person, as the state now admits that the entire water and sewage infrastructure must be replaced.
“This isn’t an inconvenience,” said Ariana Clark, wife of an MSP inmate and co-author of a public statement on the crisis. “This is neglect. Human rights abuse. State-sanctioned poisoning. My husband has been forced to live — and drink — in conditions that would shut down any public school or government building overnight.”
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (§1431), this situation constitutes an “imminent and substantial endangerment to human health.” Long-term exposure to lead, arsenic, asbestos, and radiological contaminants can cause neurological damage, kidney and liver failure, reproductive harm, and cancer.
“This isn’t just a prison issue — it’s a public health issue,” said Amanda McKnight, founder of 406 Revolutionized, a Montana-based transparency and accountability organization. “These violations didn’t happen once. They’ve been allowed to continue for decades. And now the state admits the system needs to be replaced — that tells you everything you need to know.”
Advocates are calling for:
1. A full state and federal investigation into MSP’s water safety failures
2. Public disclosure of all radiological and chemical testing results
3. Emergency relief for all affected inmates and staff
4. A long-term, independent infrastructure and accountability plan
“This is not just a breakdown of pipes — it’s a breakdown of public duty,” Clark said. “No more secrets. No more cover-ups. No more ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ We see it now — and we’re not backing down,” said McKnight with 406 Revolutionized.
By Ariana Taub-Smith and Amanda McKnight: October 17, 2025 – Deer Lodge, Mt
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