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: consider a certified water filter (19 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
The systems supplying Alamosa vary in performance across CO benchmarks - most meet minimum federal standards, but documented violations in select areas are on record.
How Alamosa Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Alamosa Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 108 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.59.
Water Systems Serving Alamosa
Residential addresses in Alamosa, CO are served by 3 primary water providers out of 3 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 2 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Inorganic | 32 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 32 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2031 | Other | 6 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
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
In Alamosa, documented water and safety issues can be addressed without making a meaningful dent in home equity - the financial proportionality here is favorable, and the commitment fits within standard property planning frameworks.
Remediation costs in Alamosa are relatively low compared to home values. The $400–$1,700 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 52% below the Colorado average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Alamosa
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Lead risk in Alamosa appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. 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 <strong>$1,000</strong> 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. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Barium can reduce the most common contaminant found in Alamosa's water.
- 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