What was found in Golden'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 | 500 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1000 µg/L — GENESEE WSD · 3,920 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 909.4999999999997 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 180 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2012 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 63.675 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 78.97999999999999 µg/L — NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 26.194999999999993 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 69.23 µg/L — NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 39.949999999999996 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 65.79999999999998 µg/L — GENESEE WSD · 3,920 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.474999999999998 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 57.259999999999984 µg/L — NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.57 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 41.06999999999999 µg/L — NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 35.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 41 µg/L — GOLDEN TERRACE WEST · 825 people · 2025 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 7.664999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.154999999999998 µg/L — NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 23.564999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.60999999999999 µg/L — GOLDEN TERRACE WEST · 825 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 20.794999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 10.000000000000004 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.819999999999991 µg/L — GOLDEN TERRACE WEST · 825 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.784999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.219999999999998 µg/L — GOLDEN TERRACE WEST · 825 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.419999999999999 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3.099999999999999 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 2.2 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.86 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.5899999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.657 µg/L — GENESEE WSD · 3,920 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.4 pCi/L 28% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 0.4000 pCi/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1.17 pCi/L — NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD · 10,000 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 1 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: GENESEE WSD · 3,920 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: GENESEE WSD · 3,920 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN CITY OF · 38,288 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0020 mg/L — GENESEE WSD · 3,920 people · 2025 | 5/5 | 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 Golden
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GOLDEN CITY OF | 38,288 |
| NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN WSD | 10,000 |
| GENESEE WSD | 3,920 |
| GOLDEN TERRACE WEST | 825 |
| GOLDEN TERRACE SOUTH | 425 |
Frequently asked questions about Golden tap water
Is Golden tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Golden. 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 Golden?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Golden, Colorado to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Golden's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Golden include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.