What was found in Rifle'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 1120 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 1000 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 474 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 529.5 µg/L — RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 200 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 310 µg/L — COTTONWOOD SPRINGS MHP · 750 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 108.45 µg/L 136% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 73.35 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 59.135 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 49.35 µg/L 82% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 40 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: COTTONWOOD SPRINGS MHP · 750 people · 2012 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 37.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2023 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 35.335 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 23.98 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 22.405 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 20.71 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 8.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.155 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.195 pCi/L 8% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.98475 pCi/L — RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2016 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.5 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.5 µg/L — RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2016 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.465 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.82 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.441 µg/L — RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 2.2 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.785 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 1.4 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2016 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.7000 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.3800 pCi/L 7.6% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2013 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.2000 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.0998 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.0700 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0014 mg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: RIFLE CITY OF · 9,489 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0077 mg/L — RIFLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER · 287 people · 2025 | 3/3 | 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 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 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.