Gillette, Wyoming Water Outage Today
Live Gillette water outage reports, City of Gillette Utilities’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Gillette, Wyoming in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Gillette?
Drinking water in Gillette, Wyoming is supplied by City of Gillette Utilities, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Wyoming are regulated by the U.S. EPA Region 8 (Wyoming public water systems are overseen federally).
To report no water or a main break, call City of Gillette Utilities at 307-686-5276.
Gillette water system at a glance
Federal records name City of Gillette as the public water system for Gillette, with about 32,222 people on its mains. Customers know it as City of Gillette Utilities; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | City of Gillette (WY5600019) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 32,222 through 10,637 service connections |
| Source of the water | Groundwater (wells) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 31 active wells, 2 treatment points, 13 storage tanks and reservoirs, 12 pump facilities |
| State regulator | U.S. EPA Region 8 (Wyoming public water systems are overseen federally) |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 7 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Source water and treatment in Gillette
Water in Gillette comes out of the ground. City of Gillette runs 31 active wells that lift it to the surface for treatment and distribution. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Pine Ridge Treatment Plant. After treatment the water is held in 13 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 12 pump facilities; that storage is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
Why this matters when the water stops. Wells mean there is no big plant to fail, but each one needs power to lift water. A grid outage can drop several at once, and recovery depends on how many have standby generators. City of Gillette Utilities can say which zones are covered.
Main breaks and shutoffs in Gillette: the usual causes
Water outages are local, so the likely cause depends on weather, pipe age and the grid. For Gillette, these stand out.
- Freezing weather. Gillette sees about 160 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 54 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 13, 2024. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 14 days, ending February 18, 2021. Frozen service lines and meters cause single-address outages, while ground frost and thaw cycles crack older mains and produce the street-wide breaks.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Campbell County number 422 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on City of Gillette Utilities run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Summer demand. Gillette has about 16 days a year at or above 95°F, and the hottest day in the record came on July 27, 2021. Lawn irrigation and cooling push demand to its yearly high, so pumps run hard, tanks drain faster than they refill and pressure sags on high ground in the evening.
- Younger pipe, different risks. Only 8.4% of occupied homes in Gillette predate 1970 (US 35.5%), so more of the network is newer plastic or ductile iron. Breaks tend to come from construction damage, pressure surges and weather rather than age.
- Damage from other crews. Water mains share the ground with gas, power and telecom lines, and a strike by any contractor can dry up a block in seconds.
- One-address problems. A closed valve, a meter swap or a failed regulator can leave a single house dry. Compare notes with a neighbor first; if they have water too, start with your own plumbing.
How weather strains the Gillette water system
Main break season in Gillette runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 160.1 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 54.5 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 32 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 15.7 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 2.8 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 0.3 |
| Average annual precipitation | 16 in |
| Wettest year | 2019 (21.9 in) |
| Driest year | 2020 (11.2 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 13, 2024 |
| Hottest day in the record | July 27, 2021 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 30.3 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2019 with 21.9 inches; the driest was 2020 with 11.2. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
These counts come from a gridded reanalysis, which smooths out single-day extremes and can differ by a few degrees from an airport thermometer. Use them to compare seasons and years, not as official station records.
Boil water advisories and the federal violation record for Gillette
Since 2015, EPA's record for City of Gillette shows no health-based violations. It also lists 2 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent entries, all monitoring or reporting:
- October 2023: A missed or late disinfection byproduct monitoring sample It is marked resolved.
- June 2023: A coliform bacteria testing violation It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Coliform bacteria testing | 0 | 1 |
| Disinfection byproducts | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Boil water notices in Gillette are precautions, not findings. When pressure drops, City of Gillette Utilities tells affected customers to boil water until two rounds of lab tests are clean, a process that normally takes 24 to 48 hours after service is restored, under oversight from the U.S. EPA Region 8 (Wyoming public water systems are overseen federally).
Lead service lines and old plumbing in Gillette
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for City of Gillette is 4 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is far from the limit.
Highest result on file: 7 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
8.4% of occupied homes in Gillette were built before 1970, and lead service lines and solder stayed legal until the federal ban in 1986. After any outage that disturbs the pipes, run the cold tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, and ask City of Gillette Utilities about its lead service line inventory.
How long a water outage lasts in Gillette
Most repairs of an ordinary main break in Gillette take half a day once the crew is on site. Bigger mains, deep bury and busy roads stretch that to a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | About 4 to 8 hours after the crew is on site |
| Large or deep main | One to three days, longer if parts must be ordered |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Until power returns and tanks recover, often within a day |
| Boil water notice after service returns | Until two clean rounds of samples, usually 1 to 2 days |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
City of Gillette Utilities will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
How much water to keep on hand in Gillette
With about 2.6 people in the typical Gillette home, FEMA's one-gallon-per-person-per-day rule means 8 gallons covers three days and 37 gallons covers two weeks.
- 16.8% of homes are mobile or manufactured homes, whose pipes are more exposed to freezing and have less room for a water heater tank as backup.
- Your water heater tank holds 30 to 50 gallons of clean water. Turn off the power or gas to it first, then drain from the valve at the bottom.
- Fill the bathtub and a few large pots as soon as you hear a break is likely; that water is for flushing and washing, not drinking.
Water systems near Gillette, side by side
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gillette, WY | City of Gillette | 32,222 | Ground | 0 | 7 |
| Casper, WY | City of Casper | 59,000 | Bought (surface) | 0 | 1 |
| Rapid City, SD | Rapid City | 72,009 | Surface | 0 | 6 |
| Billings, MT | City of Billings | 114,000 | Surface | 0 | 5 |
| Laramie, WY | City of Laramie | 32,395 | Surface | 0 | 1.3 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Where to find official Gillette water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from City of Gillette Utilities, not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Gillette frequently asked water questions
Who do I call about no water in Gillette?
City of Gillette Utilities at 307-686-5276, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does Gillette get its water?
Per EPA, the water system for Gillette (City of Gillette) is classed as groundwater.
Is Gillette tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists no health-based violations for City of Gillette since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 4 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. Follow any boil water notice until the utility says it is over.
What time of year are Gillette water main breaks most common?
Breaks in Gillette pile up in the cold, with about 160 freezing days a year and the worst stretch from December to February. The days right after a deep freeze, when the soil thaws and shifts, are usually the busiest.
What causes low water pressure in Gillette?
Check whether neighbors have the same problem. If they do, it is probably a main break, a pump problem or evening demand, and City of Gillette Utilities should hear about it. If not, the cause is likely inside your own plumbing.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in Gillette?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so City of Gillette Utilities cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the U.S. EPA Region 8 (Wyoming public water systems are overseen federally) sets the rules for that process.
How much drinking water should I keep at home in Gillette?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average Gillette household has about 2.6 people, which works out to roughly 8 gallons for three days and 37 for two weeks.
Does Gillette have lead pipes?
It depends on the age of your home. About 8.4% of occupied homes in Gillette were built before 1970, and lead service lines remained legal until 1986. Contact City of Gillette Utilities about your address and flush the cold tap after any outage.
Where can I see water outages in Gillette?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of Gillette have sent in over the last day, and City of Gillette Utilities has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
More outage pages for Gillette and nearby
Other outage types in Gillette
Water Service Outages in cities near Gillette
- Casper, WY 106 mi · City of Casper Utilities
- Rapid City, SD 113 mi · Rapid City Water Division
- Billings, MT 179 mi · City of Billings Public Works
- Laramie, WY 206 mi · City of Laramie Water
- Cheyenne, WY 220 mi · Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities
- Pierre, SD 255 mi · City of Pierre Utilities
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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