Water Quality in La Junta, CO: 31 Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems
3 water systems · 1 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 31 violations across 1 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for La Junta. 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 La Junta
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81050 | 31 | 21 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
La Junta, Colorado has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 1 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 31 violations, including 21 health-based violations across 1 directly mapped ZIP record with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of La Junta is 0.0010 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 1 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 82% of homes built before 1986, La Junta has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving La Junta
La Junta is served by 3 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 9,774 people live in the area (1 ZIP code, 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 La Junta. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in La Junta
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 La Junta Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across La Junta's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | Radionuclides | 5 pCi/L | 28 | 1 | Yes |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | N/A | 2 | 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.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year health-based EPA violations recorded for water systems serving La Junta (this history covers health-based records only):
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
Health-based violations have increased from 3 in 2021 to 4 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems serving La Junta. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-01-15 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-01-12 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-12-05 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-12-05 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2025-10-09 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-10-07 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-07-16 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-07-16 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2025-05-08 | State Informal Action |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-01-15.
La Junta vs. Nearby Colorado Cities
How La Junta's water quality compares to similar cities in Colorado:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Junta | 1 | 31 | 3 | 9,774 |
| Salida | 1 | 11 | 1 | 9,561 |
| Breckenridge | 1 | 15 | 1 | 10,044 |
| Estes Park | 1 | 99 | 3 | 10,093 |
Common Questions About La Junta Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in La Junta, Colorado:
Is La Junta water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. La Junta's 3 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink La Junta tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 21 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for La Junta? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
La Junta vs. Colorado Average
Understanding how La Junta 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 La Junta.
ZIP Codes in La Junta
La Junta spans 1 ZIP code. EPA water-system coverage is available for 1 directly mapped ZIP code. 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.