Montezuma County, Colorado
7 ZIP codes · Avg score 49/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Montezuma County ranks below average for water safety, with health-based violations recorded across multiple of its 7 ZIP codes.
How Montezuma County Compares
How Montezuma County Compares
Montezuma County scores 11 points below the Colorado state average (60/100) and 19 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Montezuma County, Colorado
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.1 (asthma 11.8%, diabetes 11.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,027, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.369% avg pipe failure probability, 29% of ZIPs at high risk
57.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Montezuma County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2025 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 4 total (4 health-based).
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: $1,027
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
12,365 housing units in Montezuma 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 Montezuma County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Montezuma 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 Montezuma 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 Montezuma County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Cortez | 8,770 | 20 |
| 2 | Lake Durango Water Authority | 1,577 | 18 |
| 3 | Mancos Town of | 1,390 | 18 |
| 4 | Mancos Rural Water Company | 1,300 | 18 |
| 5 | Montezuma Cnty Water District No 1 | 490 | 15 |
10 total water systems serve Montezuma County.
All ZIP Codes in Montezuma County
7 ZIP codes tracked in Montezuma County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81321 | Cortez | 66 | C | 15 (1 health) | $260K |
| 2 | 81323 | Dolores | 61 | C | 5 | $339K |
| 3 | 81328 | Mancos | 56 | C | 18 | $410K |
| 4 | 81327 | Lewis | 40 | D | 0 | $366K |
| 5 | 81330 | Mesa Verde National Park | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 6 | 81334 | Towaoc | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 7 | 81335 | Yellow Jacket | 40 | D | 0 | $438K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Montezuma County
Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 57.6% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Montezuma County, Colorado
Overview
Montezuma County in Colorado covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (49/100).
3 of 7 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation 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.
What You Can Do
Montezuma 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
57.6% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.