Boulder, CO: 32 Health Violations — 62/100 (2026)
16 ZIP codes · 13 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
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 Last verified: 2026-06-03
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 water safety grades across Boulder.
Boulder Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 192 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.002 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 13 total systems — independent providers with different rate structures, infrastructure, and compliance records that vary across the service territory.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 16 ZIP codes in Boulder, Colorado (population ~129,202), covering 13 community water systems serving approximately 285,919 people region-wide.
16 of 16 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 32 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Boulder: C (62/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Boulder water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0020 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 102 | 16 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 34 | 16 |
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 34 | 16 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 17 | 16 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 17 | 16 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80301 | C | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80302 | D | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80303 | D | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80304 | D | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80305 | C | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80306 | C | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80307 | C | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80308 | C | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80309 | C | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
| 80310 | C | 12 | 2 | City of Boulder |
All ZIP Codes in Boulder
- 80301 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80302 [D] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80303 [D] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80304 [D] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80305 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80306 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80307 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80308 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80309 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80310 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80314 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80321 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80322 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80323 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80328 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
- 80329 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
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
Updated daily.
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.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Boulder
Boulder's flood profile — 1433 NFIP claims over the program's multi-decade period and 44% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones — reflects a community where flooding has shaped the local risk landscape in sustained ways. That sustained exposure has specific consequences for water quality that don't apply to lower-exposure areas. Treatment facilities handling intake from flood-saturated watersheds face contaminant loads that can exceed normal filtration capacity. Private wells in FEMA-designated zones face surface infiltration risk during every significant event. Distribution systems in areas that flood repeatedly accumulate backflow stress over time. None of these represent constant threats to water quality, but they are activated by the kinds of events that the NFIP record shows have occurred here, repeatedly, over many years.
Boulder has a significant flood history with 1,433 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $18,400 per claim. With 44% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,281</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
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 Lead and Copper Rule 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