City of Sterling
EPA ID: CO0138045 · 15,100 people served · 2 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA records for City of Sterling (CO0138045): 10 violations on record since 2021. City of Sterling has 10 EPA violations on record, all marked resolved in the federal data; the utility serves 15,100 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Sterling Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Demographics of ZIP Codes Served
The ZIP codes associated with City of Sterling have a median household income of $60,317 and about 17,688 residents live in those ZIP codes (Census; not the number of people this system supplies). Approximately 88% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
City of Sterling'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.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.
Infrastructure Risk
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Colorado
System Overview
City of Sterling (EPA ID: CO0138045) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 15,100 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 10 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2023 | Turbidity | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| August 1, 2023 | E. COLI | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| August 1, 2023 | Cryptosporidium | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Turbidity | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| June 1, 2023 | Cryptosporidium | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| May 1, 2023 | Cryptosporidium | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| October 1, 2022 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2022 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| April 5, 2021 | Public Notice | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 5, 2021 | Public Notice | Non-health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptosporidium | Other Violation | 3 | No |
| Public Notice | Monitoring & Reporting | 2 | No |
| Public Notice | Other (notice or report rule) | 2 | No |
| Turbidity | Monitoring & Reporting | 2 | No |
| E. COLI | Monitoring & Reporting | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| Below the reporting limit | No | 2025-12-31 |
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
2 of 2 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
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 available EPA compliance records for City of Sterling (CO0138045) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Sterling water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for City of Sterling; its 10 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does City of Sterling serve?
City of Sterling serves approximately 15,100 people across 2 ZIP codes in Colorado.
Where does City of Sterling get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: No PFAS Reported Above Reporting Levels
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were reported above UCMR5 minimum reporting levels.
EPA's April 2024 PFAS rule sets MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS and 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX); water systems must comply from 2029. Other PFAS compounds have no individual federal MCL. A state standard is shown only where this system's state has its own enforceable PFAS limit. Detection results are EPA UCMR5 samples, not a measurement at your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
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
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Sterling (CO): 10 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/co0138045/
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title = {{City of Sterling (CO): 10 EPA Violations}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/co0138045/}
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What You Can Do
Test your water
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Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
City of Sterling (EPA ID: CO0138045) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.