Water System Report CO

Highlands Ranch Water Supply District

EPA ID: CO0118015 ยท 103,444 people served ยท 7 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Highlands Ranch Water Supply District (CO0118015): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. In every reporting cycle over the past five years, Highlands Ranch Water Supply District has come through without a single EPA violation - a consistent performance across the full service population of approximately 103,444 residents that reflects both well-maintained infrastructure and reliable operational oversight.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 67
Avg Safety Score
103,444
People Served
7
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$708K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Highlands Ranch Water Supply District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$147,500
Median Household Income
169,943
Service Area Population
2%
Disadvantaged Population
13th
Poverty Percentile
10th
Energy Burden Percentile
27%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Highlands Ranch Water Supply District serves a community with a median household income of $147,500 and an estimated 169,943 residents across its service area.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Highlands Ranch Water Supply District'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
53th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

32 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
36 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 47% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 26 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.07 ppt, PFOS: 0.07 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Colorado

City of Longmont
104,178 people
D 2 violations
2 violations
Castle Rock Town of
110,298 people
C 8 violations
Pueblo Board of Ww
114,070 people
C 0 violations
Ute Wcd
92,580 people
C 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,543
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $443
Water Filtration $43
Total Estimated Cost $3,229

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,229 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Highlands Ranch Water Supply District (EPA ID: CO0118015) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 103,444 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 7 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (67/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 3 of 7 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.002 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by CO or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Highlands Ranch Water Supply District (CO0118015) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highlands Ranch Water Supply District water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Highlands Ranch Water Supply District in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Highlands Ranch Water Supply District serve?

Highlands Ranch Water Supply District serves approximately 103,444 people across 7 ZIP codes in Colorado.

Where does Highlands Ranch Water Supply District get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
203
Detections
10
Latest sample
10/7/2024
Highest analyte
PFBA: 8.7 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 8.7 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 5.7 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 5.1 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFBS 5 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Highlands Ranch Water Supply District safe to drink?
Highlands Ranch Water Supply District has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Highlands Ranch Water Supply District meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Highlands Ranch Water Supply District serve?
Highlands Ranch Water Supply District serves approximately 103,444 people with drinking water across 7 ZIP codes.
What is Highlands Ranch Water Supply District's water source?
Highlands Ranch Water Supply District draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Highlands Ranch Water Supply District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Highlands Ranch Water Supply District's service area?
The Highlands Ranch Water Supply District service area has a median household income of $147,500. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Highlands Ranch Water Supply District get its water?
Highlands Ranch Water Supply District'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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Highlands Ranch Water Supply District: Serves 103K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/co0118015/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-co0118015,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Highlands Ranch Water Supply District: Serves 103K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/co0118015/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Highlands Ranch Water Supply District (EPA ID: CO0118015) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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