What was found in Colorado Springs's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 9500 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 16/34 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 9500 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 14/34 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 3300 µg/L 83% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 18/34 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 600 µg/L No EPA limit set | 18/34 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 500 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 4/34 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 331 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 18/34 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 124 µg/L 155% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 18/34 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 78.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/34 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 74.2 µg/L 124% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 16/34 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 61 µg/L 122% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 50 µg/L | 14/34 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 59 µg/L 197% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 30 µg/L | 11/34 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 46 µg/L No EPA limit set | 9/34 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 43.8 pCi/L 292% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 pCi/L | 15/34 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 38.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 16/34 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 30.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 18/34 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 30 µg/L No EPA limit set | 12/34 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 21 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 20.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 18/34 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 16.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/34 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 14 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 12/34 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 11.78 µg/L No EPA limit set | 12/34 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 10 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 6/34 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 7.2 pCi/L 144% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 pCi/L | 16/34 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 6.78 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 6.5 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 6 µg/L | 4/34 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 5.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/34 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 9/34 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 3.6 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 4/34 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 3.5 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 2.4 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 2/34 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 2.4 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 4/34 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 1.4 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 2/34 | SYR4 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 1 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Diquat | 0.6000 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 20 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.3000 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.2500 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.2200 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.1500 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 3/34 | SYR4 |
| Pfhxa | 0.1406 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/34 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.1089 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/34 | UCMR-5 |
| Picloram | 0.1000 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 500 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0420 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/34 | UCMR-5 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 0.0400 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Bhc-Gamma | 0.0300 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| PFHXS | 0.0284 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/34 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0167 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/34 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0158 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/34 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0105 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/34 | UCMR-5 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.0100 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L | 3/34 | SYR4 |
| Ethylene Dibromide | 0.0094 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 0.0500 µg/L | 1/34 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0080 mg/L 53% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 32/34 | LCR |
| Pfpes | 0.0053 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/34 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/34 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on
record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Colorado Springs
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES | 464,111 |
| CHEROKEE MD | 29,610 |
| WIDEFIELD WSD | 27,640 |
| SECURITY WATER DISTRICT | 20,000 |
| STRATMOOR HILLS WSD | 6,500 |
| DONALA WSD | 6,421 |
| COLORADO CENTRE MD | 3,675 |
| FALCON AREA WATER AND WASTEWATER | 1,926 |
| CANTERBURY PARK | 1,240 |
| THE SPRINGS MHP | 1,229 |
| FALCON HIGHLANDS MD | 1,050 |
| FOREST LAKES MD | 1,049 |
| PARK FOREST | 930 |
| GARDEN VALLEY | 900 |
| LAMPLIGHTER RHP | 643 |
| CANYON RIDGE | 625 |
| CRESTLINE MANOR | 505 |
| HOLIDAY VILLAGE MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY | 360 |
| EMERALD ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK | 280 |
| ELLICOTT UTILITIES COMPANY LLC | 272 |
| SHANGRILA MHP | 260 |
| SLEEPY VALLEY COMMUNITY MHP | 260 |
| ROCK CREEK MESA | 225 |
| RED ROCK VALLEY WD | 200 |
| SUNSET HILLS MOBILE PARK | 157 |
| TURKEY CANON RANCH WD | 138 |
| SHADOW MOUNTAIN MOBILE HOME PARK | 132 |
| ELEPHANT ROCK MHP | 60 |
| CAMELOT PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC | 60 |
| OVERLOOK MUTUAL WC | 50 |
| SADDLEHORN RANCH MD | 39 |
| SANCTUARY OF PEACE POA | 20 |
| FOUNTAIN VALLEY AUTHORITY | 13 |
| MID COLORADO INVESTMENT | 0 |
Frequently asked questions about Colorado Springs tap water
Is Colorado Springs tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 54 contaminants in the water serving Colorado Springs. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Colorado Springs?
34 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Colorado Springs, Colorado to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Colorado Springs's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Colorado Springs include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Chloroform, Xylenes, Total. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.