Denver Water Board
EPA ID: CO0116001 · 1,287,000 people served · 74 ZIP codes
Looking at the EPA enforcement file for Denver Water Board, 3 violations appear in the five-year dataset, but none remain open — the utility has addressed each finding and is in current compliance, with no pending enforcement affecting the 1,287,000 people in its service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 6 (2021) to 2 (2022). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Denver Water Board Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Denver Water Board serves a community with a median household income of $86,008 and an estimated 1,274,387 residents across its service area. Approximately 61% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Denver Water Board's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Arapahoe County, Colorado rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 63th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 77th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Denver Water Board compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Fecal Coliform at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 55 detections recorded. 8 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Colorado
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Denver Water Board (EPA ID: CO0116001) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 1,287,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 74 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (66/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2024 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Combined Radium | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80201 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80202 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80203 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80204 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80205 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80206 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80207 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80208 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80209 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80210 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80211 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80212 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80214 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80215 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80216 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80217 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80218 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80219 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80220 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 80221 | 0.0039 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 41 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 33 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 74 ZIP codes:
80012 · 80014 · 80019 · 80110 · 80123 80201 · 80202 · 80203 · 80204 · 80205 80206 · 80207 · 80208 · 80209 · 80210 80211 · 80212 · 80214 · 80215 · 80216 80217 · 80218 · 80219 · 80220 · 80221 80222 · 80223 · 80224 · 80225 · 80226 80227 · 80228 · 80229 · 80230 · 80231 80232 · 80233 · 80234 · 80235 · 80236 80237 · 80238 · 80239 · 80243 · 80244 80246 · 80247 · 80248 · 80249 · 80250 80251 · 80252 · 80256 · 80257 · 80259 80260 · 80261 · 80262 · 80263 · 80264 80265 · 80266 · 80271 · 80273 · 80274 80279 · 80280 · 80281 · 80290 · 80291 80293 · 80294 · 80295 · 80299
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Denver Water Board (CO0116001) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denver Water Board water safe to drink?
Denver Water Board has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Denver Water Board serve?
Denver Water Board serves approximately 1,287,000 people across 74 ZIP codes in Colorado.
Where does Denver Water Board get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from Denver Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Denver Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has completed a source water assessment of the potential for contaminants reaching any of Denver Water’s three terminal reservoirs at Strontia Springs, Marston and Ralston, the last stop for water before it is treated.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Denver Water Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
PFAS Substances Detected in This System
This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.
In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →
Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Denver Water.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.
Denver Water has launched the Lead Reduction Program...All lead service lines are slated to be removed by 2035.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
Denver Water
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- During a state inspection in September 2022, inspectors found deficiencies related to cross-connection and storage conditions.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #98 / 100 Highest Exposure Burden (U.S.)
- #1 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Colorado)
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Denver Water Board (EPA ID: CO0116001) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.