Health Violations Found CO 4 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Palmer Lake Town of

EPA ID: CO0121575 · 2,686 people served · 5 ZIP codes

Five-year compliance data for Palmer Lake Town of includes 6 violations the EPA has not yet marked resolved — those open findings are part of the utility's current enforcement profile, covering a service population of approximately 2,686 residents across the area it supplies.

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

C · 66
Avg Safety Score
2,686
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
31
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.004 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
10
Contaminants Flagged
$570K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 10 (2021) to 2 (2026). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Palmer Lake Town of Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$122,941
Median Household Income
97,428
Service Area Population
27%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
36th
Energy Burden Percentile
36%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Palmer Lake Town of serves a community with a median household income of $122,941 and an estimated 97,428 residents across its service area.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Palmer Lake Town of'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
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
12th
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

37 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
32 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 54% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Palmer Lake Town of compares to EPA limits

Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults
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

Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis 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.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 7 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 4 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. 1 detection recorded.

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 →

Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Colorado

Buffalo Mountain Md
2,650 people
0 violations
Colorado City Md
2,755 people
D 45 violations
Center Town of
2,575 people
C 2 violations
C 92 violations
City of Cripple Creek
2,817 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,200
Radon Mitigation $880
Water Filtration $360
PFAS Treatment $100
Total Estimated Cost $2,540

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 $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,540 (one-time) vs. $15,330 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

Palmer Lake Town of (EPA ID: CO0121575) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 2,686 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 5 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

4 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 6 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
June 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
May 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
March 21, 2025 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
September 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
September 1, 2024 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
August 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
August 1, 2024 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
December 29, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
August 5, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Chlorine residual Health-based Resolved
June 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 7 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 5 No
Gross Beta Radionuclides 4 Yes
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 4 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 4 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
E. coli Microbiological 2 No
Lead Inorganic 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
80133 0.004 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: 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 Palmer Lake Town of (CO0121575) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Palmer Lake Town of water safe to drink?

Palmer Lake Town of has recorded 4 health-based violations 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 Palmer Lake Town of serve?

Palmer Lake Town of serves approximately 2,686 people across 5 ZIP codes in Colorado.

Where does Palmer Lake Town of get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
1,012
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: 2,686
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Palmer Lake Town of safe to drink?
Palmer Lake Town of has a C safety grade based on 31 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Palmer Lake Town of's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule. 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 Palmer Lake Town of serve?
Palmer Lake Town of serves approximately 2,686 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Palmer Lake Town of's water source?
Palmer Lake Town of draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Palmer Lake Town of's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.004 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Palmer Lake Town of's service area?
The Palmer Lake Town of service area has a median household income of $122,941. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Palmer Lake Town of get its water?
Palmer Lake Town of'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

Palmer Lake Town of (EPA ID: CO0121575) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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