Telluride, CO: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 33/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Telluride: F.
Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (10 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Water compliance in Telluride, CO ranks below average - documented gaps in multiple service areas.
How Telluride Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Telluride Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 172 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 31% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.61.
Telluride's Water Providers
Residential addresses in Telluride, CO are served by 2 primary water providers out of 2 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
- F
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Telluride, Colorado (population ~5,626), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 17,600 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Telluride: F (33/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Telluride water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 36 | 1 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 10 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 10 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 10 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2274 | Other | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81435 | F | 172 | 10 | Telluride Town of |
All ZIP Codes in Telluride
- 81435 [F] - 172 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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Telluride Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Telluride's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Telluride Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Prohibited from residential plumbing since 1986, lead solder divides Telluride's housing stock along a timeline that the median build year of 1996 straddles. A meaningful share of homes predates the ban - a configuration that places moderate aggregate pressure on plumbing-related lead risk, distributed unevenly across neighborhoods.
Most homes in Telluride 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Telluride
Within the Telluride market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Telluride are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,300–$5,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 56% above the Colorado average.
Telluride: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 31% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Telluride.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Telluride: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Telluride contains 15 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $18,734. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
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. The <strong>$3,600</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Telluride
- 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 E. coli can reduce the most common contaminant found in Telluride's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 31% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Telluride, CO