Worst Infrastructure: Colorado — 2026 Rankings

Out of 646 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in Colorado, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	646
Highest risk	72%
Median risk	36%
Average risk	38%
State	Colorado

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	80131	Louviers	CO	72%	Very High	40/100
2	80745	Padroni	CO	66%	Very High	40/100
3	81004	Pueblo	CO	66%	Very High	70/100
4	81030	Cheraw	CO	64%	Very High	33/100
5	81633	Dinosaur	CO	64%	Very High	65/100
6	80024	Dupont	CO	63%	Very High	40/100
7	81040	Gardner	CO	63%	Very High	53/100
8	81067	Rocky Ford	CO	63%	Very High	45/100
9	80469	Phippsburg	CO	62%	Very High	53/100
10	81023	Beulah	CO	62%	Very High	45/100
11	81050	La Junta	CO	62%	Very High	35/100
12	81058	Manzanola	CO	62%	Very High	33/100
13	80437	Evergreen	CO	61%	Very High	52/100
14	80479	Toponas	CO	61%	Very High	53/100
15	81021	Arlington	CO	61%	Very High	40/100
16	80033	Wheat Ridge	CO	60%	High	53/100
17	80860	Victor	CO	60%	High	56/100
18	81029	Campo	CO	60%	High	66/100
19	81043	Hartman	CO	60%	High	40/100
20	81129	Conejos	CO	60%	High	82/100
21	80025	Eldorado Springs	CO	59%	High	53/100
22	80732	Hereford	CO	59%	High	40/100
23	80819	Green Mountain Falls	CO	59%	High	53/100
24	80804	Arriba	CO	58%	High	40/100
25	81069	Rye	CO	58%	High	40/100
26	81138	Jaroso	CO	58%	High	53/100
27	80434	Cowdrey	CO	57%	High	40/100
28	81054	Las Animas	CO	57%	High	61/100
29	81064	Pritchett	CO	57%	High	49/100
30	80034	Wheat Ridge	CO	56%	High	50/100
31	80476	Silver Plume	CO	56%	High	67/100
32	80744	Ovid	CO	56%	High	61/100
33	80834	Seibert	CO	56%	High	64/100
34	80861	Vona	CO	56%	High	61/100
35	81047	Holly	CO	56%	High	33/100
36	81090	Walsh	CO	56%	High	34/100
37	81092	Wiley	CO	56%	High	45/100
38	80510	Allenspark	CO	55%	High	51/100
39	81057	Mc Clave	CO	55%	High	40/100
40	81335	Yellow Jacket	CO	55%	High	40/100
41	81419	Hotchkiss	CO	55%	High	57/100
42	80439	Evergreen	CO	54%	High	42/100
43	80747	Peetz	CO	54%	High	51/100
44	80755	Vernon	CO	54%	High	40/100
45	81003	Pueblo	CO	54%	High	65/100
46	81039	Fowler	CO	54%	High	62/100
47	81044	Hasty	CO	54%	High	37/100
48	80722	Atwood	CO	53%	High	53/100
49	80727	Eckley	CO	53%	High	61/100
50	80824	Kirk	CO	53%	High	40/100
51	80866	Woodland Park	CO	53%	High	52/100
52	80903	Colorado Springs	CO	53%	High	65/100
53	80207	Denver	CO	52%	High	69/100
54	80754	Stoneham	CO	52%	High	40/100
55	80822	Joes	CO	52%	High	40/100
56	81006	Pueblo	CO	52%	High	65/100
57	81027	Branson	CO	52%	High	60/100
58	81055	La Veta	CO	52%	High	53/100
59	81428	Paonia	CO	52%	High	58/100
60	81653	Slater	CO	52%	High	53/100
61	80532	Glen Haven	CO	51%	High	45/100
62	80540	Lyons	CO	51%	High	35/100
63	80740	Lindon	CO	51%	High	40/100
64	80818	Genoa	CO	51%	High	46/100
65	81001	Pueblo	CO	51%	High	65/100
66	81033	Crowley	CO	51%	High	40/100
67	81041	Granada	CO	51%	High	50/100
68	81089	Walsenburg	CO	51%	High	44/100
69	80122	Littleton	CO	50%	High	65/100
70	80218	Denver	CO	50%	High	69/100
71	80477	Steamboat Springs	CO	50%	High	72/100
72	80488	Steamboat Springs	CO	50%	High	69/100
73	80737	Julesburg	CO	50%	High	61/100
74	80807	Burlington	CO	50%	High	66/100
75	80823	Karval	CO	50%	High	64/100
76	81144	Monte Vista	CO	50%	High	73/100
77	81324	Dove Creek	CO	50%	High	47/100
78	81413	Cedaredge	CO	50%	High	59/100
79	80220	Denver	CO	49%	High	64/100
80	80452	Idaho Springs	CO	49%	High	63/100
81	80483	Yampa	CO	49%	High	79/100
82	80517	Estes Park	CO	49%	High	54/100
83	80731	Haxtun	CO	49%	High	64/100
84	80743	Otis	CO	49%	High	65/100
85	80821	Hugo	CO	49%	High	65/100
86	80909	Colorado Springs	CO	49%	High	60/100
87	81052	Lamar	CO	49%	High	62/100
88	81076	Sugar City	CO	49%	High	68/100
89	81253	Wetmore	CO	49%	High	63/100
90	81424	Nucla	CO	49%	High	60/100
91	80219	Denver	CO	48%	High	64/100
92	80401	Golden	CO	48%	High	64/100
93	80453	Idledale	CO	48%	High	53/100
94	80465	Morrison	CO	48%	High	56/100
95	80537	Loveland	CO	48%	High	49/100
96	80623	Gilcrest	CO	48%	High	66/100
97	80720	Akron	CO	48%	High	65/100
98	80726	Crook	CO	48%	High	69/100
99	80729	Grover	CO	48%	High	40/100
100	80829	Manitou Springs	CO	48%	High	58/100

Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-07-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.