Delta County, Colorado
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 55/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Delta County's water quality grade reflects a middle-ground assessment — its 8 ZIP codes range from fully compliant to violation-flagged.
How Delta County Compares
How Delta County Compares
Delta County scores 5 points below the Colorado state average (60/100) and 13 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Delta County, Colorado
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.7 (asthma 11.4%, diabetes 12.4%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,024, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.429% avg pipe failure probability, 43% of ZIPs at high risk
59.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2026)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Delta County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 14 violations. Past 5 years: 34 total (34 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,024
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
15,102 housing units in Delta County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Delta County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Delta County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Delta County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Delta County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paonia Town of | 2,499 | 131 |
| 2 | Upper Surface Creek Domestic Wua | 2,800 | 105 |
| 3 | Hotchkiss Town of | 2,050 | 92 |
| 4 | Rogers Mesa Wc | 840 | 92 |
| 5 | Fruitland Domestic Wc | 335 | 92 |
24 total water systems serve Delta County.
All ZIP Codes in Delta County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Delta County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81416 | Delta | 62 | C | 1 | $283K |
| 2 | 81413 | Cedaredge | 59 | C | 13 (6 health) | $329K |
| 3 | 81428 | Paonia | 58 | C | 39 (12 health) | $371K |
| 4 | 81419 | Hotchkiss | 57 | C | 92 (7 health) | $353K |
| 5 | 81410 | Austin | 56 | C | 7 | $326K |
| 6 | 81415 | Crawford | 56 | C | 12 | $399K |
| 7 | 81418 | Eckert | 53 | D | 0 | $236K |
| 8 | 81414 | Cory | 40 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Delta County
Strictly editorial — no paid placements influence which guides appear; the selection draws on NSF certifications and EPA detection records for water systems serving this county.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 59.9% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Delta County, Colorado
Overview
Delta County in Colorado covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (55/100).
6 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 25 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Colorado water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.