Colorado
Water quality data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System
Water Systems
5,105
Active public water systems
Population Served
7.50M
Residents with piped water
Lead Violations
17
Systems exceeding 15 ppb
Copper Violations
238
Lead & Copper Rule
Average Lead Level
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb
MCLG (health goal): 0 ppb
Average across 1602 systems with reported lead data.
Violations Detected
255 water systems in Colorado have reported violations under the Lead and Copper Rule. These utilities are required to notify customers and take corrective action.
Water Systems: Highest Lead Levels
| System Name | City | Population | Lead Level | Status | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORT CARSON | 48,000 | 10.40 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| BERTHOUD | 14,211 | 10.00 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| CENTENNIAL | 55,000 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| LAKEWOOD | 49,400 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| LITTLETON | 48,648 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| LAKEWOOD | 44,000 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| LAKEWOOD | 30,000 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| BERTHOUD | 25,654 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 1996-12-31 | |
| DENVER | 23,756 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| DENVER | 22,000 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| WHEAT RIDGE | 20,000 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| LITTLETON | 19,485 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| CENTENNIAL | 19,000 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| DENVER | 14,500 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 | |
| LITTLETON | 12,000 | 9.00 ppb | OK | 2002-12-31 |
Showing top 15 of 1466 systems with lead data. Action level: 15 ppb.
Systems With Active Violations
These water systems have exceeded EPA limits and must take corrective action.
PARKER · Pop. 75,949
Lead: 2.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
BRIGHTON · Pop. 56,304
Lead: 2.00 ppb (2023-12-31)
CENTENNIAL · Pop. 31,000
Lead: 1.10 ppb (2025-12-31)
EVANS · Pop. 19,369
Lead: 2.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
STERLING · Pop. 15,100
Lead: 0.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
PARKER · Pop. 12,901
Lead: 0.90 ppb (2025-06-30)
FORT LUPTON · Pop. 12,099
Lead: 4.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
IDAHO SPRINGS · Pop. 10,432
Lead: 7.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
Water Source Types
Air Quality
GoodAvg AQI
47.1
PM2.5
6.5 µg/m³
Unhealthy Days
7
Primary Pollutant
Ozone, PM2.5
Source: EPA AirNow & American Lung Association 2024 State of the Air. AQI scale: 0–50 Good · 51–100 Moderate · 101–150 Sensitive Groups · 151+ Unhealthy.
PFAS Contamination
Moderate DetectionPFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as “forever chemicals,” are a group of synthetic chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment and human body. The EPA set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS in April 2024. View national PFAS tracker →
Systems Tested
212
PFAS Detected
72
Detection Rate
34.0%
Exceeding MCL (4 ppt)
12(5.7%)
Highest recorded level: 35 ppt (EPA MCL: 4 ppt). Central Colorado identified as contamination hotspot; military/industrial sources