What was found in Estes Park'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 177 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5158 µg/L — ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS · 260 people · 2017 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 186 µg/L 1.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 690 µg/L — RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2016 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 197.5 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 670 µg/L — RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 58.01 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 110.9 µg/L — YMCA ROCKIES WIND RIVER · 3,730 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 99.381 pCi/L 663% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS · 260 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 77.98 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 85.68 µg/L — YMCA ROCKIES WIND RIVER · 3,730 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 80.48 µg/L 101% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 84.44 µg/L — YMCA ROCKIES WIND RIVER · 3,730 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 68.81 µg/L 229% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 30 µg/L Highest in the city: ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS · 260 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 24.35 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 65.34 µg/L — YMCA ROCKIES WIND RIVER · 3,730 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 7.055 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 62.5 µg/L — ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS · 260 people · 2018 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 61 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 27.145 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 53.975 µg/L — YMCA ROCKIES WIND RIVER · 3,730 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2.58 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.08 µg/L — RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 14.545 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 9.6 pCi/L 192% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS · 260 people · 2017 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.82 µg/L — YMCA ROCKIES WIND RIVER · 3,730 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS · 260 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 0.4800 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.9 µg/L — RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2018 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST · 900 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.1 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS · 260 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Picloram | 0.1300 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 500 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 0.1200 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WINDCLIFF POA · 339 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.1100 µg/L 5.5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.1000 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0014 mg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0150 mg/L — ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS · 260 people · 2025 | 5/5 | LCR |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.0098 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Main supplier: ESTES PARK TOWN OF · 16,722 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
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 Estes Park
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ESTES PARK TOWN OF | 16,722 |
| YMCA ROCKIES WIND RIVER | 3,730 |
| RMNP HEADQUARTERS EAST | 900 |
| WINDCLIFF POA | 339 |
| ANNUNCIATION HEIGHTS | 260 |
Frequently asked questions about Estes Park tap water
Is Estes Park tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Estes Park. 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 Estes Park?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Estes Park, Colorado to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Estes Park's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Estes Park include Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U. 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.