Water System Report CO

Cottonwood Water Supply District

EPA ID: CO0118020 · 10,867 people served · 9 ZIP codes

Over five tracked years, Cottonwood Water Supply District has stayed completely violation-free for its 10,867 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

10,867
People Served
9
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$662K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$119,898
Median Household Income
228,654
Service Area Population
12%
Disadvantaged Population
26th
Poverty Percentile
10th
Energy Burden Percentile
44%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Cottonwood Water Supply District serves a community with a median household income of $119,898 and an estimated 228,654 residents across its service area. Approximately 44% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Cottonwood 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
66th
Superfund Site Proximity

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.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 66th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

44 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
23 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 66% 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. 30 detections recorded. 4 exceed 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Colorado

B 13 violations
City of Alamosa
11,271 people
C 20 violations
City of Idaho Springs
10,432 people
C 5 violations
City of Trinidad
11,400 people
D 17 violations
Wellington Town of
11,500 people
C 14 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $867
PFAS Treatment $378
Water Filtration $233
Total Estimated Cost $2,678

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 $2,678 (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

Cottonwood Water Supply District (EPA ID: CO0118020) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 10,867 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your 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.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 6 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Cottonwood Water Supply District (CO0118020) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cottonwood Water Supply District water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Cottonwood Water Supply District has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Cottonwood Water Supply District serve?

Cottonwood Water Supply District serves approximately 10,867 people across 9 ZIP codes in Colorado.

Where does Cottonwood 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
174
Detections
10
Latest sample
9/11/2023
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 6.2 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 6.2 ppt
PFBA 5.6 ppt
PFHxA 5.4 ppt
PFBS 4.7 ppt
PFOA 4 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
2,362
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-07-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 10,867
Reported to Colorado

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood Water Supply District serve?
Cottonwood Water Supply District serves approximately 10,867 people with drinking water across 9 ZIP codes.
What is Cottonwood Water Supply District's water source?
Cottonwood Water Supply District draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Cottonwood Water Supply District's service area?
The Cottonwood Water Supply District service area has a median household income of $119,898. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Cottonwood Water Supply District get its water?
Cottonwood 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.
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