01The verdict: is Crested Butte water safe?
Crested Butte's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of C- (57.8/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 9 water systems serve approximately 5,668 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
31 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.5 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓17 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Crested Butte's drinking water received a grade of C- (57.8 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 9 water systems serve approximately 5,668 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.5 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 241 violations on record, including 12 health-based violations. 31 remain unresolved.
Crested Butte ranks #147 out of 244 cities in Colorado for water quality, placing it below average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. The system has seen 17 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Crested Butte's water
Every contaminant flagged in Crested Butte, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.5 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Colorado
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Colorado
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Crested Butte's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 241 violations on record, including 12 health-based violations. 31 remain unresolved.
2 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 3 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 2 ppb (2025) — 13% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Crested Butte's water comes from
Crested Butte's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
9 systems
9 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
5,668 people
Residents served across Crested Butte's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 5,668 people through 9 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRESTED BUTTE TOWN OF | CO0126188 | 2,440 | Surface Water |
| CRESTED BUTTE SOUTH | CO0126189 | 2,000 | Groundwater |
| RIVERLAND LOT OWNERS ASSOC | CO0126677 | 368 | Groundwater |
| SKYLAND MD | CO0226712 | 335 | Groundwater |
| BUCKHORN RANCH WS | CO0126158 | 205 | Ground Water Under Influence |
| LARKSPUR SUBD | CO0126466 | 118 | Groundwater |
| PONDEROSA PARK ASSOC | CO0126618 | 100 | Groundwater |
| SADDLE RIDGE RANCH ESTATES WC | CO0126716 | 55 | Ground Water Under Influence |
| RIVER GREEN POA | CO0126674 | 47 | Groundwater |
Water bodies near Crested Butte
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Crested Butte's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Crested Butte's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
3 federal disaster declarations on record for Gunnison County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Superfund proximity
1 National Priorities List site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
Drought
Gunnison County is in D4 (exceptional drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Crested Butte compares
Scores for nearby Colorado cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Colorado average (45/100)
Crested Butte scores 57.8/100 — above the Colorado average of 45/100. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities. Full Colorado rankings →
39.6 / 100FAurora, CO
38.1 / 100FColorado Springs, CO
33.5 / 100DFort Collins, CO
46.8 / 100FLakewood, CO
36.9 / 100FThornton, CO
38 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Crested Butte's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Crested Butte's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Crested Butte alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Crested Butte, CO tap water safe to drink?
Crested Butte's water quality earned a grade of C- (57.8/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #147 out of 244 cities tested in Colorado.
What contaminants are in Crested Butte's water?
Lead was measured at 0.5 ppb (90th percentile). 241 violations are on record.
How is Crested Butte's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Crested Butte?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Crested Butte's water come from?
Crested Butte's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 9 water systems serving approximately 5,668 residents.
What health violations has Crested Butte's water system had?
Crested Butte has 12 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 31 violations remain unresolved.
How does Crested Butte's water compare to other cities?
Crested Butte ranks #147 out of 244 cities in Colorado (better than 40% of state cities) and #12130 out of 15382 cities nationally (21th percentile). The grade of C- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.