What was found in Rifle'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 1330 µg/L 133% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1000 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 540 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 310 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 120 µg/L 150% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 74 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 68.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 61.2 µg/L 102% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 40.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 40 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 37.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 24.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 24.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 23.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 8.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 8.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.16 pCi/L 28% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3.5 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.6 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.49 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 2.2 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.8 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 1.4 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.7000 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.3800 pCi/L 7.6% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.2000 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.1000 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.0700 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0077 mg/L 51% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 3/3 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Rifle
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| RIFLE CITY OF | 9,489 |
| COTTONWOOD SPRINGS MHP | 750 |
| RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER | 287 |
Frequently asked questions about Rifle tap water
Is Rifle tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 30 contaminants in the water serving Rifle. 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 Rifle?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Rifle, Colorado to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Rifle's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Rifle include Chlorite, Fluoride, Nitrate, TTHM, Barium. 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.