Tri County Wcd
EPA ID: CO0143755 · 20,490 people served · 9 ZIP codes
Tri County Wcd carries 3 open EPA violations that remain unresolved in the federal system — approximately 20,490 people fall within its service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2021) to 5 (2023). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Tri County Wcd Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Tri County Wcd serves a community with a median household income of $72,730 and an estimated 61,510 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.
Environmental Justice Note: 34% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Tri County Wcd'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.
About 2% of homes in Gunnison County, Colorado rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 72th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Tri County Wcd compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Contaminant 1009 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.004 mg/L. Intestinal damage, bone damage. 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.
E. coli at 6 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead and Copper Rule at 3 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. 3 detections recorded.
Contaminant 1009 was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
Tri County Wcd (EPA ID: CO0143755) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 20,490 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 7 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (58/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2025 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 2, 2025 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Total Organic Carbon | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2023 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2023 | E. coli | Health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 6 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 3 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Contaminant 1009 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))
Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.
Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81432 | 0.0158 mg/L | Yes | N/A |
| 81220 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 81427 | 0.0013 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 FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 8 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 81220 — Cimarron
- 81401 — Montrose
- 81402 — Montrose
- 81403 — Montrose
- 81415 — Crawford
- 81416 — Delta
- 81425 — Olathe
- 81427 — Ouray
- 81432 — Ridgway
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Tri County Wcd (CO0143755) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tri County Wcd water safe to drink?
Tri County Wcd 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 Tri County Wcd serve?
Tri County Wcd serves approximately 20,490 people across 9 ZIP codes in Colorado.
Where does Tri County Wcd get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
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.
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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.
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
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Tri County Wcd (EPA ID: CO0143755) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.