Health Concerns Found SCHOOL DISTRICT PFAS DETECTED

Poudre School District R-1 (CO): 43 Health Violations

17 ZIP codes · 18 water systems · 434,286 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Poudre School District R-1: 11 unresolved violations in the water systems serving this district.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

D · 53
Avg Safety Score (13 ZIP)
17
ZIP Codes
18
Water Systems
409
Violations (5yr) (13 ZIP)
0.008 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
2
ZIPs with PFAS
Zone 1
Radon Risk (17 ZIP)

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.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The Poudre School District R-1 in Colorado spans 17 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 13 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 13 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 434,286 across 9 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

The average Home Safety Score under model 4.0.0 across 13 scored ZIP records is D (53/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 31/100 .

Water quality in this district falls in the bottom 78% 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) 0.008 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.015 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 13 with known status -

PFAS Contamination

PFAS ("forever chemicals") detected in 2 ZIP records in this district. The aggregate does not treat ZIP records without PFAS evidence as tested negatives.

Detected compounds: PFOA.

Highest measured level: 0.0048 µg/L.

PFAS can accumulate in the body over time. Children's higher water intake relative to body weight makes them particularly susceptible. Reverse osmosis filters (NSF/ANSI 58) are the most effective at removing PFAS.

Learn more about PFAS in drinking water →

EPA Violation History

43 health-based violations recorded across 13 ZIP records with known health counts in the past 5 years. 13 of 13 ZIP records with known total counts have at least one violation. 11 violations remain unresolved.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
E. coli Microbiological 61 Yes 12
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 54 Yes 13
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 53 Yes 13
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 46 No 10
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 35 No 11
Contaminant 1008 Other 33 No 12
Fecal Coliform Microbiological 31 Yes 12
Contaminant 1009 Other 24 No 8

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High risk)

17 of 17 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1. The zone is not a building measurement; homes and school buildings should be tested directly.

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
80517 Estes Park D (50) 99 32 0.002 mg/L No
80524 Fort Collins D (50) 65 2 0.008 mg/L No
80538 Loveland F (38) 35 4 0.015 mg/L No
80550 Windsor F (31) 28 1 0.0058 mg/L No
80535 Laporte C (57) 27 0 0.0051 mg/L No
80549 Wellington C (57) 25 2 0.0039 mg/L No
80525 Fort Collins C (58) 23 0 0.004 mg/L No
80526 Fort Collins C (59) 23 0 0.015 mg/L No
80521 Fort Collins C (59) 22 0 0.015 mg/L No
80612 Carr D (52) 17 2 0.0034 mg/L No
80528 Fort Collins C (62) 16 0 0.0058 mg/L No
80547 Timnath C (60) 16 0 0.0058 mg/L No
80512 Bellvue C (62) 13 0 0.015 mg/L No
80532 Glen Haven N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
80536 Livermore N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
80545 Red Feather Lakes N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
82063 Jelm N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

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. Address PFAS - If PFAS are detected in your area, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon block filter rated NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 can reduce levels significantly.
  5. 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).
  6. 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 Poudre School District R-1 schools?

EPA system-level records associated with Poudre School District R-1 show 43 health-based violations across 13 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.

Does Poudre School District R-1 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).

Are there PFAS in Poudre School District R-1 water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in 2 ZIP records associated with this district. ZIP records without PFAS evidence are not counted as tested negatives. PFAS are "forever chemicals" that do not break down and can accumulate in the body. The EPA has set maximum contaminant levels for certain PFAS compounds.

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Colorado → Poudre School District R-1

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Poudre School District R-1 (CO): 43 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/poudre-school-district-r-1-co/
BibTeX 
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Poudre School District R-1 (CO): 43 Health Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/poudre-school-district-r-1-co/}
}
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