Boulder, CO: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 60/100
16 ZIP codes · 14 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Boulder: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (18 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Recent monitoring in Boulder shows middle-tier safety for CO - some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Boulder Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Boulder, CO
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of Home Safety grades across Boulder.
Boulder Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 110 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0034 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,281 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 8.71.
Water Systems Serving Boulder
Throughout Boulder, CO, water comes from one of 3 primary utilities out of 14 total systems - independent providers with different rate structures, infrastructure, and compliance records that vary across the service territory.
- C
- D
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 16 ZIP codes in Boulder, Colorado (population ~129,202), covering 14 community water systems serving approximately 290,800 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 16 ZIP codes.
6 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 18 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Boulder: C (60/100)
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
Boulder water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0034 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 6 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 16 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 53 | 6 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 40 | 6 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 20 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80301 | D | 82 | 4 | City of Boulder |
| 80305 | C | 19 | 11 | City of Boulder |
| 80303 | C | 17 | 3 | City of Boulder |
| 80302 | C | 3 | 0 | City of Boulder |
| 80304 | C | 3 | 0 | City of Boulder |
| 80310 | — | 2 | 0 | City of Boulder |
All ZIP Codes in Boulder
- 80301 [D] - 82 violations ⚠
- 80302 [C] - 3 violations
- 80303 [C] - 17 violations ⚠
- 80304 [C] - 3 violations
- 80305 [C] - 19 violations ⚠
- 80306
- 80307
- 80308
- 80309
- 80310 - 2 violations
- 80314
- 80321
- 80322
- 80323
- 80328
- 80329
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 Boulder
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 Boulder
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Boulder: Remediation Cost in Perspective
What does remediation cost in financial context for Boulder homeowners? Proportionally very little - the equity share here is low, and addressing documented issues is a manageable planning question rather than a material financial burden.
Remediation costs in Boulder are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,469–$3,206 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 118% above the Colorado average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Boulder
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 Boulder 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 Boulder
Historical NFIP data for Boulder contains 1,434 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $28,110. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 43% 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>$2,281</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 Boulder
- 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 E. coli can reduce the most common contaminant found in Boulder'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 Boulder, CO