Is Colorado Springs, CO Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in Colorado Springs'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-Nitrite	498 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 9255 µg/L — CHEROKEE MD · 29,610 people · 2019	14/34	SYR4
Nitrate	444 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 8800 µg/L — CHEROKEE MD · 29,610 people · 2019	16/34	SYR4
Fluoride	1440 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 3290 µg/L — OVERLOOK MUTUAL WC · 50 people · 2017	18/34	SYR4
Xylenes, Total	49.975 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 500 µg/L — CAMELOT PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC · 60 people · 2019	4/34	SYR4
Barium	55.5 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 327.9 µg/L — ELEPHANT ROCK MHP · 60 people · 2018	18/34	SYR4
TTHM	61.7 µg/L 77% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 99.6 µg/L — WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2019	18/34	SYR4
Lithium	17 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2025 Highest in the city: 78.6 µg/L — WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	7/34	UCMR-5
Chloroform	67.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019	18/34	SYR4
Combined Uranium	9.04 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2017 Highest in the city: 57.5 µg/L — TURKEY CANON RANCH WD · 138 people · 2019	11/34	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	56.84 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019	16/34	SYR4
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U	43.32 pCi/L 289% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: TURKEY CANON RANCH WD · 138 people · 2019	15/34	SYR4
Bromoform	34.475 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GARDEN VALLEY · 900 people · 2019	16/34	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	31.51 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 33.335 µg/L — STRATMOOR HILLS WSD · 6,500 people · 2019	9/34	SYR4
Selenium	4.95 µg/L 9.9% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 29.5 µg/L — RED ROCK VALLEY WD · 200 people · 2019	14/34	SYR4
Bromodichloromethane	11.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 26.84 µg/L — ROCK CREEK MESA · 225 people · 2019	18/34	SYR4
Nitrite	21 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: RED ROCK VALLEY WD · 200 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	18.39 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 19 µg/L — SECURITY WATER DISTRICT · 20,000 people · 2019	12/34	SYR4
Dibromochloromethane	1.751 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 17.02 µg/L — CHEROKEE MD · 29,610 people · 2019	18/34	SYR4
Monobromoacetic Acid	16.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: STRATMOOR HILLS WSD · 6,500 people · 2019	6/34	SYR4
Chromium	1.51 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 11.6 µg/L — RED ROCK VALLEY WD · 200 people · 2019	12/34	SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid	11.183 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GARDEN VALLEY · 900 people · 2019	12/34	SYR4
Gross Beta Particle Activity	9.8 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CAMELOT PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC · 60 people · 2014	6/34	SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)	1.58 pCi/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2017 Highest in the city: 7.11 pCi/L — ELEPHANT ROCK MHP · 60 people · 2019	16/34	SYR4
Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate	6.5 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019	4/34	SYR4
Ethylbenzene	6.181 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Monochloroacetic Acid	3.368 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 5.05 µg/L — CHEROKEE MD · 29,610 people · 2019	8/34	SYR4
Arsenic	3.9 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: TURKEY CANON RANCH WD · 138 people · 2018	9/34	SYR4
Antimony, Total	0.5500 µg/L 9.2% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 3.6 µg/L — RED ROCK VALLEY WD · 200 people · 2019	4/34	SYR4
Dalapon	3.5 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: GARDEN VALLEY · 900 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Toluene	2.31 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMELOT PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC · 60 people · 2019	4/34	SYR4
Tetrachloroethylene	2.225 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: STRATMOOR HILLS WSD · 6,500 people · 2019	2/34	SYR4
Cadmium	1.29 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE MD · 29,610 people · 2019	2/34	SYR4
1,1-Dichloroethylene	1 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L Highest in the city: TURKEY CANON RANCH WD · 138 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Trichloroethylene	1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Diquat	0.6000 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 20 µg/L Highest in the city: RED ROCK VALLEY WD · 200 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Mercury	0.3000 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE MD · 29,610 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Beryllium, Total	0.2500 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: DONALA WSD · 6,421 people · 2018	1/34	SYR4
Thallium, Total	0.2200 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: FOUNTAIN VALLEY AUTHORITY · 13 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene	0.0722 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019 Highest in the city: 0.1480 µg/L — CHEROKEE MD · 29,610 people · 2019	3/34	SYR4
Pfhxa	0.1406 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	4/34	UCMR-5
Pfpea	0.1089 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	4/34	UCMR-5
Picloram	0.1000 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 500 µg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Pfba	0.0420 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	3/34	UCMR-5
Pentachlorophenol	0.0400 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Highest in the city: STRATMOOR HILLS WSD · 6,500 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Bhc-Gamma	0.0300 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: FOREST LAKES MD · 1,049 people · 2017	1/34	SYR4
PFHXS	0.0284 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	1/34	UCMR-5
PFBS	0.0167 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	2/34	UCMR-5
PFOS	0.0158 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	1/34	UCMR-5
PFOA	0.0105 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	2/34	UCMR-5
Hexachlorobenzene	0.0100 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE MD · 29,610 people · 2019	3/34	SYR4
Ethylene Dibromide	0.0094 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 0.0500 µg/L Highest in the city: STRATMOOR HILLS WSD · 6,500 people · 2019	1/34	SYR4
Lead	0.0057 mg/L 38% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES · 464,111 people · 2025 Highest in the city: 0.0080 mg/L — CRESTLINE MANOR · 505 people · 2025	32/34	LCR
Pfpes	0.0053 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WIDEFIELD WSD · 27,640 people · 2024	1/34	UCMR-5
Pfhpa	0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: STRATMOOR HILLS WSD · 6,500 people · 2025	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 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 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-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Xylenes, Total, Barium. 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.