What was found in Crested Butte's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 2700 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC · 368 people · 2019 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1500 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC · 368 people · 2012 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 18.65 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 213.5 µg/L — CRESTED BUTTE SOUTH · 2,000 people · 2019 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 182 µg/L 4.6% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 206 µg/L — RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC · 368 people · 2019 | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 152.009 µg/L 507% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 30 µg/L Highest in the city: SKYLAND MD · 335 people · 2015 | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 109.324 µg/L 182% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019 | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 102.775 µg/L 128% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 91.995 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019 | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 62.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 42.8015 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 10.38 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019 | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4.9 µg/L 9.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: BUCKHORN RANCH WS · 205 people · 2019 | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.785 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.16 µg/L — BUCKHORN RANCH WS · 205 people · 2019 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.8 µg/L — RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC · 368 people · 2019 | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 0.4000 pCi/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2012
Highest in the city: 3.38 pCi/L — SKYLAND MD · 335 people · 2015 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.3645 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 2.895 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SKYLAND MD · 335 people · 2015 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.7 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SKYLAND MD · 335 people · 2018 | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.4 pCi/L 48% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC · 368 people · 2019 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BUCKHORN RANCH WS · 205 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.69 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC · 368 people · 2017 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.295 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BUCKHORN RANCH WS · 205 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.2000 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.1100 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC · 368 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0060 mg/L 40% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF · 2,440 people · 2026 | 9/9 | LCR |
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 95th percentile of the
system's samples — 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 Crested Butte
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF | 2,440 |
| CRESTED BUTTE SOUTH | 2,000 |
| RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC | 368 |
| SKYLAND MD | 335 |
| BUCKHORN RANCH WS | 205 |
| LARKSPUR SUBD | 118 |
| PONDEROSA PARK ASSOC | 100 |
| SADDLE RIDGE RANCH ESTATES WC | 55 |
| RIVER GREEN POA | 47 |
Frequently asked questions about Crested Butte tap water
Is Crested Butte tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Crested Butte. 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 Crested Butte?
9 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Crested Butte, Colorado to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Crested Butte's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Crested Butte include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Barium, Fluoride, Combined Uranium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.