Health Violations Found CO 3 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

City of Lamar

EPA ID: CO0150700 · 7,500 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Federal water data for City of Lamar logs 4 historical violations — all addressed and cleared, leaving the utility in current compliance for 7,500 people.

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

C · 62
Avg Safety Score
7,500
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
4
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.004 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
2
Contaminants Flagged
$319K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Lamar Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$75,264
Median Household Income
31,408
Service Area Population
32%
Disadvantaged Population
45th
Poverty Percentile
45th
Energy Burden Percentile
78%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Lamar serves a community with a median household income of $75,264 and an estimated 31,408 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 32% 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?

Groundwater

City of Lamar's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
45th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
35th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Jefferson 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

50 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
21 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 70% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Lamar compares to EPA limits

Gross Beta 3 pCi/L (6% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 50 pCi/L

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment 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. 2 detections 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Colorado

D 26 violations
City of Florence
7,500 people
C 17 violations
Eagle Town of
7,511 people
B 12 violations
C 12 violations
Eaton Town of
7,328 people
C 8 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $300
PFAS Treatment $250
Total Estimated Cost $2,950

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 $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,950 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

City of Lamar (EPA ID: CO0150700) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 7,500 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: C (62/100)

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

Violation History

3 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. All violations have been resolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Gross Beta Radionuclides 3 Yes
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
81052 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 City of Lamar (CO0150700) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Lamar water safe to drink?

City of Lamar has recorded 3 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 City of Lamar serve?

City of Lamar serves approximately 7,500 people across 2 ZIP codes in Colorado.

Where does City of Lamar get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
58
Detections
2
Latest sample
8/26/2025
Highest analyte
PFBS: 4.7 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBS 4.7 ppt
PFHxS 3.3 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
3,278
Unknown Material
347
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: 7,500
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

Is water from City of Lamar safe to drink?
City of Lamar has a C safety grade based on 4 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in City of Lamar's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Gross Beta. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant 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 City of Lamar serve?
City of Lamar serves approximately 7,500 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is City of Lamar's water source?
City of Lamar draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Lamar'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 City of Lamar's service area?
The City of Lamar service area has a median household income of $75,264. EPA EJScreen data classifies 32% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Lamar get its water?
City of Lamar's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. 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

City of Lamar (EPA ID: CO0150700) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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