Ouray County, Colorado
2 ZIP codes · Avg score 55/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Current EPA records place Ouray County in the middle tier for drinking water safety, with 2 ZIP codes showing a range of outcomes.
How Ouray County Compares
How Ouray County Compares
Ouray 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
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 11.6 (asthma 10.6%, diabetes 10%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $980, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.375% avg pipe failure probability
45% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2023)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Ouray County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 5 total (5 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: $980
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
2,985 housing units in Ouray 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 Ouray County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Ouray 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 Ouray 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 Ouray County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tri County Wcd | 20,490 | 36 |
| 2 | Ridgway Town of | 1,000 | 22 |
| 3 | Elk Meadows Estates | 230 | 22 |
| 4 | Dallas Meadows Community Assoc | 120 | 22 |
| 5 | City of Ouray | 1,460 | 14 |
6 total water systems serve Ouray County.
All ZIP Codes in Ouray County
2 ZIP codes tracked in Ouray County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81427 | Ouray | 69 | C | 14 (1 health) | $562K |
| 2 | 81432 | Ridgway | 41 | D | 22 (4 health) | $771K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Ouray 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 Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 1 ZIP code
- 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
Overview
Ouray County in Colorado covers 2 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (55/100).
2 of 2 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.