Health Violations Found CO 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Colorado Springs Utilities

EPA ID: CO0121150 · 464,111 people served · 63 ZIP codes

The EPA enforcement database lists 1 active violation for Colorado Springs Utilities — a provider that delivers drinking water to approximately 464,111 people and has not yet formally resolved those findings.

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

C · 61
Avg Safety Score
464,111
People Served
63
ZIP Codes Served
7
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0057 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
7
Contaminants Flagged
$425K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 14 (2021) to 3 (2026). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Colorado Springs Utilities Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$85,341
Median Household Income
734,056
Service Area Population
25%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
43%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Colorado Springs Utilities serves a community with a median household income of $85,341 and an estimated 734,056 residents across its service area. Approximately 43% 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

Colorado Springs Utilities'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
59th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in El Paso County, Colorado rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

42 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Unknown
Pipe Material
25 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 63% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Colorado Springs Utilities compares to EPA limits

Atrazine 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.003 mg/L
Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Atrazine at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.003 mg/L. Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 49 detections recorded. 14 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 →

Atrazine was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Colorado

City of Aurora
533,407 people
D 12 violations
City of Thornton
226,465 people
C 8 violations
City of Westminster
202,078 people
C 12 violations
City of Ft Collins
179,901 people
C 10 violations
City of Arvada
171,610 people
C 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $667
Radon Mitigation $514
PFAS Treatment $92
Water Filtration $33
Total Estimated Cost $1,306

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,306 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

Colorado Springs Utilities (EPA ID: CO0121150) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 464,111 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 63 ZIP codes across 9 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (61/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 1 remains unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 2, 2025 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Atrazine Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Atrazine Organic 1 No
Total Coliform Microbiological 1 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Chlorine residual Disinfectant 1 Yes

Health Risk Details

Chlorine (Residual Disinfectant) (EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level))

Irritation & DBP formation at high levels; protective at normal treatment levels At-risk groups: people with asthma or chemical sensitivities, kidney dialysis patients (water must be dechlorinated).

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), KDF media filter, carbon block filter. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
80901 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80902 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80903 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80904 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80905 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80906 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80907 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80908 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80909 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80910 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80911 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80912 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80913 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80915 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80916 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80917 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80918 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80919 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80920 0.0057 mg/L No N/A
80921 0.0057 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 Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 36 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 27 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 63 ZIP codes:

80132 · 80808 · 80809 · 80817 · 80819 80829 · 80831 · 80863 · 80901 · 80902 80903 · 80904 · 80905 · 80906 · 80907 80908 · 80909 · 80910 · 80911 · 80912 80913 · 80914 · 80915 · 80916 · 80917 80918 · 80919 · 80920 · 80921 · 80922 80923 · 80924 · 80925 · 80926 · 80927 80928 · 80929 · 80930 · 80931 · 80932 80933 · 80934 · 80935 · 80936 · 80937 80938 · 80939 · 80941 · 80942 · 80943 80944 · 80945 · 80946 · 80947 · 80949 80950 · 80951 · 80960 · 80962 · 80970 80977 · 80995 · 80997

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Colorado Springs Utilities (CO0121150) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colorado Springs Utilities water safe to drink?

Colorado Springs Utilities has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Colorado Springs Utilities serve?

Colorado Springs Utilities serves approximately 464,111 people across 63 ZIP codes in Colorado.

Where does Colorado Springs Utilities 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.

Website
www.csu.org ↗

Contact information from Colorado Springs Utilities 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.

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.

Samples collected
696

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
161,736
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 464,111
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 →

Aesthetic water quality

These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.

pH
8.4
How acidic or basic the water is on a 0-14 scale. Drinking water is typically near neutral.
EPA secondary range: 6.5 – 8.5
Fluoride
0.26 ppm
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm
Alkalinity
25 ppm CaCO₃
Capacity of the water to neutralize acids, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent.
Total dissolved solids
63 ppm
Mineral content remaining after evaporation, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other dissolved substances.
EPA secondary MCL: 500 ppm

Aesthetic measurements from Colorado Springs Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.

Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Colorado Springs Utilities safe to drink?
Colorado Springs Utilities has a C safety grade based on 7 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Colorado Springs Utilities's water?
Detected contaminants include Atrazine, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Stage 1 DBP Rule, Total Coliform. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Colorado Springs Utilities serve?
Colorado Springs Utilities serves approximately 464,111 people with drinking water across 63 ZIP codes.
What is Colorado Springs Utilities's water source?
Colorado Springs Utilities draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Colorado Springs Utilities's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0057 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Colorado Springs Utilities's service area?
The Colorado Springs Utilities service area has a median household income of $85,341. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Colorado Springs Utilities get its water?
Colorado Springs Utilities'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 violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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 →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Colorado Springs Utilities (EPA ID: CO0121150) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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