Water Quality in Fort Collins, CO: 66 Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems
12 water systems · 5 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 66 violations across 5 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Fort Collins. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Fort Collins
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80524 | 65 | 2 | View report → |
| 80525 | 23 | 0 | View report → |
| 80526 | 23 | 0 | View report → |
| 80521 | 22 | 0 | View report → |
| 80528 | 16 | 0 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Fort Collins, Colorado has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 5 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 66 violations, including 2 health-based violations across 5 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Fort Collins is 0.0030 mg/L; the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to a water system's own 90th-percentile result and is not a safety threshold (EPA's health goal for lead is zero). No exceedances appear among the 5 ZIP records with known lead status.
Water Systems Serving Fort Collins
Fort Collins is served by 12 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 201,525 people live in the area (9 ZIP codes, Census); this is not the systems' reported service population.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
EPA records list enforcement actions against water systems serving Fort Collins. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Fort Collins
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Fort Collins Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Fort Collins's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 22 | 5 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.06 mg/L | 20 | 5 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.08 mg/L | 20 | 5 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 12 | 5 | No |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | N/A | 11 | 3 | No |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 9 | 5 | Yes |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 4 mg/L (MRDL) | 6 | 3 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | N/A | 5 | 2 | No |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 10 mg/L | 1 | 1 | No |
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
The standard column shows the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) except for lead and copper, whose value is an action level that triggers corrective steps and is not an MCL. Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL and treatment-technique violations.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems serving Fort Collins. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-12 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-05-12 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-05-11 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-04-30 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-04-30 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-04-13 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-04-12 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-01-21 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-01-21 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-01-06 | State Order Extension |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-05-12.
Fort Collins vs. Nearby Colorado Cities
How Fort Collins's water quality compares to similar cities in Colorado:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins | 5 | 66 | 12 | 201,525 |
| Pueblo | 7 | 123 | 5 | 161,607 |
| Longmont | 3 | 19 | 8 | 141,102 |
| Arvada | 5 | 9 | 8 | 138,109 |
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Fort Collins
EPA coverage and recorded violations can differ across Fort Collins's ZIP codes. Missing counts are shown as unavailable, not zero:
Common Questions About Fort Collins Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Fort Collins, Colorado:
Is Fort Collins water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Fort Collins's 12 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Fort Collins tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 2 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Fort Collins? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Fort Collins vs. Colorado Average
Understanding how Fort Collins compares to the broader Colorado average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Fort Collins.
ZIP Codes in Fort Collins
Fort Collins spans 9 ZIP codes. EPA water-system coverage is available for 5 directly mapped ZIP codes. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
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
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.