Denver, CO: 207 Violations - 66/100 (2026)
69 ZIP codes · 20 water systems · Updated 2026-07-19
ZipCheckup grade for Denver: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Unlike higher-rated cities in CO, Denver carries a fair number of documented violations - the pattern of compliance gaps keeps the city in the middle tier of EPA safety rankings.
Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS Last verified: 2026-07-19
Denver Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 207 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0039 mg/L.
Water Quality in Denver
We track water quality and home safety data for 69 ZIP codes in Denver, Colorado (population ~1,108,441), covering 20 community water systems serving approximately 2,635,053 people region-wide.
69 of 69 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations - 207 total, including no health-based violations.
Average Home Safety Score: C (66/100)
Water sources: Groundwater, Surface water.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 138 | 69 |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 69 | 69 |
Lead Risk
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0039 mg/L
- 61% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
- 16% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
- Median year built: 1977
- Most common estimated pipe material: Copper
- Lead exposure risk score: 48/100
- Estimated lead service line probability: 19%
- 25 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk
With 61% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Denver residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.
Housing Age Distribution
508,608 total housing units across 69 ZIP codes:
| Era | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1940 | 64,343 | 13% |
| 1940–1949 | 22,170 | 4% |
| 1950–1959 | 65,059 | 13% |
| 1960–1969 | 61,516 | 12% |
| 1970–1979 | 77,695 | 15% |
| 1980–1989 | 50,520 | 10% |
| 1990–1999 | 45,140 | 9% |
| 2000–2009 | 54,909 | 11% |
| 2010–2019 | 62,540 | 12% |
| 2020+ | 4,716 | 1% |
Flood Risk
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Denver:
- 502 flood insurance claims on record
- $1,675,942 total paid out
- $3,339 average claim payout
- Dominant FEMA flood zone: X (Low risk)
- 7 of 69 ZIP codes in high-risk flood zones (A/V)
Radon Risk
Dominant EPA radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 69 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.
Neighborhoods by Safety Score
Safest Areas
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80201 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80202 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80203 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80205 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80206 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80207 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80211 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80212 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80217 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
| 80218 | 69/100 | C | 3 |
Areas Needing Attention
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80214 | 59/100 | C | 3 |
| 80229 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
| 80226 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
| 80224 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
| 80223 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
| 80222 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
| 80221 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
| 80220 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
| 80219 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
| 80216 | 64/100 | C | 3 |
What Denver Residents Can Do
Test Your Water
- Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
- Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
- Check your ZIP code - each area in Denver has different water systems and risk levels
Filter Your Water
- NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
- NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
- Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)
Test for Radon
- Denver is in a high-risk radon area
- Short-term radon test kits cost $10–25
- If levels exceed 4 pCi/L, EPA recommends professional mitigation
Stay Informed
- Visit your ZIP code report for detailed, address-level data
- Sign up for EPA water quality alerts
- Review the annual water quality report from your local utility
All ZIP Codes in Denver
- 80201 [C] - 3 violations
- 80202 [C] - 3 violations
- 80203 [C] - 3 violations
- 80204 [C] - 3 violations
- 80205 [C] - 3 violations
- 80206 [C] - 3 violations
- 80207 [C] - 3 violations
- 80208 [C] - 3 violations
- 80209 [C] - 3 violations
- 80210 [C] - 3 violations
- 80211 [C] - 3 violations
- 80212 [C] - 3 violations
- 80214 [C] - 3 violations
- 80215 [C] - 3 violations
- 80216 [C] - 3 violations
- 80217 [C] - 3 violations
- 80218 [C] - 3 violations
- 80219 [C] - 3 violations
- 80220 [C] - 3 violations
- 80221 [C] - 3 violations
- 80222 [C] - 3 violations
- 80223 [C] - 3 violations
- 80224 [C] - 3 violations
- 80225 [C] - 3 violations
- 80226 [C] - 3 violations
- 80227 [C] - 3 violations
- 80228 [C] - 3 violations
- 80229 [C] - 3 violations
- 80230 [C] - 3 violations
- 80231 [C] - 3 violations
- 80232 [C] - 3 violations
- 80233 [C] - 3 violations
- 80234 [C] - 3 violations
- 80235 [C] - 3 violations
- 80236 [C] - 3 violations
- 80237 [C] - 3 violations
- 80238 [C] - 3 violations
- 80239 [C] - 3 violations
- 80243 [C] - 3 violations
- 80244 [C] - 3 violations
- 80246 [C] - 3 violations
- 80247 [C] - 3 violations
- 80248 [C] - 3 violations
- 80249 [C] - 3 violations
- 80250 [C] - 3 violations
- 80251 [C] - 3 violations
- 80252 [C] - 3 violations
- 80256 [C] - 3 violations
- 80257 [C] - 3 violations
- 80259 [C] - 3 violations
- 80260 [C] - 3 violations
- 80261 [C] - 3 violations
- 80262 [C] - 3 violations
- 80263 [C] - 3 violations
- 80264 [C] - 3 violations
- 80265 [C] - 3 violations
- 80266 [C] - 3 violations
- 80271 [C] - 3 violations
- 80273 [C] - 3 violations
- 80274 [C] - 3 violations
- 80279 [C] - 3 violations
- 80280 [C] - 3 violations
- 80281 [C] - 3 violations
- 80290 [C] - 3 violations
- 80291 [C] - 3 violations
- 80293 [C] - 3 violations
- 80294 [C] - 3 violations
- 80295 [C] - 3 violations
- 80299 [C] - 3 violations
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Denver, CO?
Denver has an average Home Safety Score of 66/100 (grade C) across 69 ZIP codes. There are 207 recorded EPA violations, 0 of which are health-based. Safety varies by neighborhood - check your specific ZIP code report for details.
Does Denver have lead in the water?
The average 90th-percentile lead level across Denver is 0.0039 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. No ZIP codes currently exceed the EPA lead action level. About 61% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.
Is Denver at risk for flooding?
FEMA data shows 502 flood insurance claims in Denver ZIP codes, with an average payout of $3,339. 7 of 69 ZIP codes are in high-risk FEMA flood zones (A or V).
Are there lead pipes in Denver homes?
61% of Denver housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 16% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 19%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.
What contaminants have been found in Denver water?
The most common contaminants by violation count are Fecal Coliform, Combined Radium. Across 69 ZIP codes, 69 have recorded EPA violations. Check your ZIP code report for the specific contaminants in your area.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Housing age: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey
- Flood data: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
- Lead exposure: Composite risk score based on housing age, water lead levels, and service line estimates
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
How Old Is Denver's Housing Stock?
Median build year of 1977 means many homes predate lead paint and lead solder regulations. Consider testing if your home has original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
The year 1986 marks a critical threshold in residential plumbing safety: that's when the federal government banned lead solder from new construction, closing a major pathway for lead entering household drinking water via pipe joints. Denver's median build year of 1977 signals that most of the city's housing was built under the newer standard. The distribution above tells the full story - the post-1986 majority lowers aggregate risk, but the pre-1986 share still deserves scrutiny from anyone living in or purchasing an older home.
Most homes in Denver were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Protecting Children from Lead in Denver
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 Denver 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 Denver
Denver's flood exposure sits in the moderate range: 502 NFIP claims on record and 0% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones. Residents with private wells or older infrastructure have reasonable grounds to factor flood timing into their water quality awareness.
Denver has a moderate flood history with 502 FEMA claims. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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.
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 Denver
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- 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 Denver, CO