Water Quality in Steamboat Springs, CO: 57 Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems
4 water systems · 1 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 57 violations across 1 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Steamboat Springs. 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 Steamboat Springs
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80487 | 57 | 4 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Steamboat Springs, 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 57 violations, including 4 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 Steamboat Springs is reported as 0 mg/L (a reported 0 is not proof of no lead; check the source record for its reporting limit); 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.
Water Systems Serving Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs is served by 4 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 18,378 people live in the area (3 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 Steamboat Springs. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Steamboat Springs
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 Steamboat Springs Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Steamboat Springs's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 11 | 1 | No |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | N/A | 9 | 1 | No |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 4 mg/L (MRDL) | 7 | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.06 mg/L | 6 | 1 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.08 mg/L | 5 | 1 | No |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Organic | N/A | 2 | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 2 | 1 | No |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 10 mg/L | 1 | 1 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 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.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year health-based EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Steamboat Springs (this history covers health-based records only):
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
Health-based violations have increased from 1 in 2021 to 2 in 2023. This trend warrants monitoring.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems serving Steamboat Springs. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-02 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-03-02 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-03-02 | State Order Extension |
| 2026-02-18 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-07-17 | State Order Extension |
| 2025-07-16 | State Informal Action |
| 2025-07-16 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2024-10-29 | State Order Extension |
| 2024-10-24 | State Informal Action |
| 2024-10-24 | State Informal Enforcement |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-03-02.
Steamboat Springs vs. Nearby Colorado Cities
How Steamboat Springs's water quality compares to similar cities in Colorado:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steamboat Springs | 1 | 57 | 4 | 18,378 |
| Sterling | 1 | 10 | 1 | 17,207 |
| Johnstown | 1 | 20 | 5 | 19,696 |
| Berthoud | 1 | 15 | 4 | 16,997 |
Common Questions About Steamboat Springs Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Steamboat Springs, Colorado:
Is Steamboat Springs water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Steamboat Springs's 4 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Steamboat Springs tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 4 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Steamboat Springs? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Steamboat Springs vs. Colorado Average
Understanding how Steamboat Springs 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 Steamboat Springs.
ZIP Codes in Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs spans 3 ZIP codes. 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.