Alamosa, CO: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
2 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Alamosa: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (19 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Alamosa, CO holds a middle-tier grade; review the underlying water system records for the reasons behind it.
How Alamosa Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Alamosa Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 108 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.001 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.59.
Water Systems Serving Alamosa
More than one public water system is linked to Alamosa, CO: federal records tie 3 systems to the area, and the 3 with the largest reported service populations are shown below. Which of them supplies a particular address depends on where the property sits, and a water bill or the utility can confirm it.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Alamosa, Colorado, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 15,454 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 19 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Alamosa: C (67/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Alamosa water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
2 of 2 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 32 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 32 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Dalapon | Organic | 6 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81101 | C | 108 | 19 | City of Alamosa |
All ZIP Codes in Alamosa
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Alamosa
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Alamosa
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Alamosa: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Compared with typical property prices, the remediation estimate for Alamosa is small in percentage terms - at or under one percent.
Estimated remediation costs in Alamosa can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 52% below the Colorado average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Alamosa
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Alamosa do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Alamosa
Historical NFIP data for Alamosa contains 18 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $839. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $600 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Alamosa
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Arsenic, listed in the water-quality records for Alamosa: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Alamosa, CO