Lake County, Colorado
3 ZIP codes · Avg score 45/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Of 3 ZIP codes in Lake County, a meaningful portion have recorded health-based violations in recent monitoring periods — placing the county in the lower tier for water safety.
How Lake County Compares
How Lake County Compares
Lake County scores 15 points below the Colorado state average (60/100) and 23 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 9.8 (asthma 10.2%, diabetes 8.4%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $610, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.415% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk
69% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
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: $610
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
4,010 housing units in Lake 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 Lake County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Lake 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 Lake County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 3 systems in Lake County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PARKVILLE WD | 7,500 | 26 |
| 2 | Mountain Valley Estates | 200 | 26 |
| 3 | Mt Elbert Water Authority | 170 | 26 |
All ZIP Codes in Lake County
3 ZIP codes tracked in Lake County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80461 | Leadville | 56 | C | 26 | $395K |
| 2 | 80429 | Climax | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 3 | 81251 | Twin Lakes | 40 | D | 0 | $483K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Lake County
Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 69% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Overview
Lake County in Colorado covers 3 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (45/100).
1 of 3 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← 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.
What You Can Do
Lake County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.
Test your tap water
Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.
Consider a certified water filter
NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher
Contact your water utility
Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.
Check for lead in your home
69% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.