Before you can use your geothermal resource for heating, you must pipe the hot water from the well or spring to your home or business. More than a century ago, wooden pipelines were used to transport geothermal water. Remains of these pipelines can be found near some of Montana's early-day hot springs resorts. Today, wood is rarely the preferred material for geothermal piping. Instead, various types of plastic, adapted to specific temperature ranges, are used.
Water quality can also affect the type of piping used for a geothermal system.
These contaminants can cause corrosion or sedimentation in geothermal piping. This consists of a series of stainless steel plates, with the dirty geothermal water on one side of the plate and clean cold water on the other side of the plate. The geothermal water exchanges its heat through the plate to the clean water, which is in turn warmed. The heated clean water can then be used in the piping and heating system. The Broadwater Athletic Club near Helena uses a heat exchanger to warm clean municipal water, which is then used in swimming pools, whirlpools, and the hot water system.