Garfield County, Colorado
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 60/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Although much of Garfield County meets baseline standards, some of its 8 ZIP codes show violations that merit closer attention.
How Garfield County Compares
How Garfield County Compares
Garfield County scores 0 points above the Colorado state average (60/100) and 8 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Garfield County, Colorado
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 10.5 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 8.9%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $755, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.346% avg pipe failure probability, 29% of ZIPs at high risk
38.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Garfield County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 24 total (24 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: $755
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
26,665 housing units in Garfield 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 Garfield County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Garfield 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 Garfield 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 Garfield County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roaring Fork Water Supply District | 1,912 | 57 |
| 2 | City of Rifle | 9,489 | 45 |
| 3 | City of Glenwood Springs | 9,428 | 42 |
| 4 | Mitchell Cooper Ditch Pipeline | 1,028 | 42 |
| 5 | Colorado Mtn College Svc | 715 | 42 |
27 total water systems serve Garfield County.
All ZIP Codes in Garfield County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Garfield County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81623 | Carbondale | 68 | C | 15 (2 health) | $835K |
| 2 | 81635 | Parachute | 67 | C | 6 | $252K |
| 3 | 81647 | New Castle | 65 | C | 2 | $470K |
| 4 | 81652 | Silt | 64 | C | 28 (2 health) | $505K |
| 5 | 81650 | Rifle | 61 | C | 17 (1 health) | $397K |
| 6 | 81602 | Glenwood Springs | 60 | C | 21 | — |
| 7 | 81601 | Glenwood Springs | 55 | C | 21 | $726K |
| 8 | 81636 | Battlement Mesa | 40 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Garfield County
Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.
- 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
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Garfield County, Colorado
Overview
Garfield County in Colorado covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (60/100).
7 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 5 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.