Highland Lakes Water District
EPA ID: CO0160200 · 875 people served · 3 ZIP codes
Per EPA records, Highland Lakes Water District: 1 unresolved violation, 875 people in 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 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Highland Lakes Water District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Highland Lakes Water District serves a community with a median household income of $67,857 and an estimated 11,255 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.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Highland Lakes Water District'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 1% of homes in Teller 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
Detected Contaminants
How Highland Lakes Water District compares to EPA limits
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 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Lead and Copper Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
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 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead 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
Highland Lakes Water District (EPA ID: CO0160200) is a community water system in Colorado that serves approximately 875 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 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
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 6, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 18, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 12, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 25, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 11, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 28, 2023 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 13, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2023 | E. coli | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 16, 2023 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 6 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 6 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 4 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 4 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | No |
| Nickel | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting 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:
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: 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 Highland Lakes Water District (CO0160200) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highland Lakes Water District water safe to drink?
Highland Lakes Water District has recorded 2 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 Highland Lakes Water District serve?
Highland Lakes Water District serves approximately 875 people across 3 ZIP codes in Colorado.
Where does Highland Lakes Water District 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:
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.
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
Highland Lakes Water District (EPA ID: CO0160200) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.