What was found in Sterling'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 | 3415 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3500 µg/L — SAGE POINTE HOA · 194 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 190 µg/L 4.8% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3250 µg/L — SUNNYSLOPE HOMEOWNERS · 29 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 3025 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2018 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 133.2 µg/L 166% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 80 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 63 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 77.8 µg/L — SUNNYSLOPE HOMEOWNERS · 29 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 18.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 39.5 µg/L — SAGE POINTE HOA · 194 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 35.21 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 21.08 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 10.195 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 15.635 µg/L — SAGE POINTE HOA · 194 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 12.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Chromium | 9.7 µg/L 9.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SUNNYSLOPE HOMEOWNERS · 29 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.96 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.825 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.71 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.8 µg/L — SAGE POINTE HOA · 194 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 5.32 pCi/L 35% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 7.17455 pCi/L — SAGE POINTE HOA · 194 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.97 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.715 µg/L 3.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.9 µg/L — SAGE POINTE HOA · 194 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 5.6 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.9 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2015 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 2.96 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 2.185 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.985 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Styrene | 1.548 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SUNNYSLOPE HOMEOWNERS · 29 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.5 pCi/L 30% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.8800 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Heptachlor | 0.0500 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.4000 µg/L Highest in the city: SAGE POINTE HOA · 194 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.0490 µg/L 4.9% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: STERLING CITY OF · 15,100 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0017 mg/L — SUNNYSLOPE HOMEOWNERS · 29 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 Sterling
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| STERLING CITY OF | 15,100 |
| SAGE POINTE HOA | 194 |
| SUNNYSLOPE HOMEOWNERS | 29 |
Frequently asked questions about Sterling tap water
Is Sterling tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Sterling. 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 Sterling?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Sterling, Colorado to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Sterling's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Sterling include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM, Nitrite. 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.