Monitoring Issues SCHOOL DISTRICT

Academy School District 20 Water Quality (CO) - C

10 ZIP codes · 12 water systems · 4,182,079 people served · Updated 2026-07-23

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Academy School District 20: 8 unresolved violations in the water systems serving this district.

Data: EPA SDWIS, NCES Last verified: 2026-07-23

C · 58
Avg Safety Score
10
ZIP Codes
12
Water Systems
24
Violations (5yr)
0.0057 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Water Quality Overview

The Academy School District 20 in Colorado spans 10 ZIP codes served by 12 community water systems, providing water to approximately 4,182,079 people.

The average Home Safety Score across the district is C (58/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 40/100 .

Water quality in this district falls in the bottom 73% nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.0057 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0057 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP codes exceeding EPA action level 0 of 10 -

EPA Violation History

24 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 16 No 8
Total Coliform Microbiological 8 No 8

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High risk)

10 of 10 ZIP codes are in the highest radon risk zone. Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer in the U.S. - homes and school buildings in Zone 1 should be tested.

Water Quality by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Safety Score Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
80907 Colorado Springs C (60) 3 0 0.0057 mg/L No
80908 Colorado Springs C (65) 3 0 0.0057 mg/L No
80918 Colorado Springs C (60) 3 0 0.0057 mg/L No
80919 Colorado Springs C (55) 3 0 0.0057 mg/L No
80920 Colorado Springs C (60) 3 0 0.0057 mg/L No
80921 Colorado Springs C (60) 3 0 0.0057 mg/L No
80923 Colorado Springs C (65) 3 0 0.0057 mg/L No
80924 Colorado Springs C (65) 3 0 0.0057 mg/L No
80809 Cascade D (45) 0 0 — —
80840 U S A F Academy D (40) 0 0 — —

Water Systems Serving This District

Water System Population Served Source ZIP Codes
Colorado Springs Utilities 464,111 Surface water 80809, 80907, 80908 +6 more
Cherokee Md 29,610 Groundwater 80907, 80908, 80918 +5 more
Widefield Water Supply District 27,640 Surface water 80907, 80908, 80918 +5 more
Security Water District 20,000 Surface water 80907, 80908, 80918 +5 more
Woodmoor Water Supply District 18,031 Surface water 80921
MANITOU SPRINGS CITY OF 6,938 Surface water 80809
Stratmoor Hills Water Supply District 6,500 Surface water 80907, 80908, 80918 +5 more
Monument Town of 5,740 Groundwater 80921

12 water systems total serve this district.

Lead Risk Assessment

Lead risk: ELEVATED. 4 ZIP codes in this district have high lead exposure risk scores based on housing age and infrastructure.

Infrastructure Risk Factors

Risk Factor District Average Why It Matters
Housing built before 1986 38.1% Lead solder was used in plumbing until 1986
Housing built before 1950 6.4% Lead pipes were common before 1950
Lead service line probability 11.1% Estimated chance of lead pipes connecting homes to water mains
Average lead level (90th pctl) 0.0057 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L
Highest measured lead level 0.0057 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L

Schools built before 1986 are especially at risk. Lead can leach from older pipes, fixtures, and solder joints into drinking water — particularly when water sits in pipes overnight or over weekends.

Detailed Violation History

Contaminant Category Total Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 16 No 8
Total Coliform Microbiological 8 No 8

Most Recent Violations

  • Violation in ZIP 80907 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 80907 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 80908 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 80908 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 80918 (Unknown date) — Unresolved

Is the Water Safe at Academy School District 20 Schools?

Several factors warrant attention for families in the Academy School District 20 area:

  • 8 violations remain unresolved, meaning the issues have not been officially corrected.

Important context: EPA compliance data measures water quality at the utility level. Individual school buildings — especially older ones — may have additional risks from internal plumbing, lead fixtures, and stagnant water in pipes.

What Parents Should Do

Testing

  1. Request your school's water testing results. Under the EPA's 3Ts program, schools are encouraged to test drinking water. Ask the Academy School District 20 school board for the most recent results.
  2. Test your home water. If your home was built before 1986, lead may be present in your plumbing. Free or low-cost test kits are often available from your water utility.

Advocacy

  1. Attend school board meetings and ask about the district's water quality testing schedule and remediation plans.
  2. Request lead fixture replacement if your child's school was built before 1986 and hasn't upgraded its plumbing.
  3. Contact your water utility about the 8 unresolved violations in the district. Ask for a timeline for resolution.

Resources

ZIP Code Reports for This District

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Consider a water filter for your home - NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) filters are certified to remove lead. This is especially important for infant formula preparation.
  4. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  5. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Academy School District 20 schools?

Based on EPA data, water systems serving Academy School District 20 have no health-based violations in the past 5 years. However, school buildings with older plumbing may still have localized issues. Testing at the tap (not just at the treatment plant) is important.

Does Academy School District 20 test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Colorado → Academy School District 20

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Academy School District 20 Water Quality (CO) - C. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/academy-school-district-20-co/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-schools-academy-school-district-20-co,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Academy School District 20 Water Quality (CO) - C}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/academy-school-district-20-co/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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