WaterVerge

Is Zion, CO Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A with no contaminants above EPA limits. Here's everything we tested and how Zion ranks. What to do next ↓

624 residents served 1 water system PWSID: IL0970010
Overall Score
90.3 / 100
Violations
None active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased surface water
#18 of 246 in Colorado Top 15% nationally
Private
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
90.3/100
waterverge.com
A 90.3/100

Zion, CO — Water Quality Report

Zion's drinking water received a grade of A (90.3 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 624 residents using purchased surface water.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 8 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Zion's water

Zion ranks #18 out of 246 cities in Colorado for water quality, placing it one of the best 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.

As a small community water system, Zion may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

The system has seen 6 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
90.3 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
39.3/45
B
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
10/10
A
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
4/5
B
Water source: Purchased surface water.
Water Safety

Is Zion, CO water safe to drink?

Generally Safe

Based on EPA testing data, Zion's tap water is generally safe to drink. The water system earned a grade of A (90.3/100), meeting federal drinking water standards across key contaminant categories. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 624 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).

6
Violations (5yr)
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Zion

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Zion's water quality assessment. Grade: A (90.3/100).

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM.

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), TTHM.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Zion's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Zion's water system has 8 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved. 6 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MRMON
Most recent violations:
Oct 2025 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Resolved
Oct 2025 TTHM Resolved
Apr 2025 TTHM Resolved
Apr 2025 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Resolved
Oct 2024 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Resolved

Where does Zion's water come from?

Zion's drinking water comes from surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 624 people. Surface water sources are more susceptible to contamination from runoff, industrial discharge, and algal blooms, requiring extensive treatment. Nearby water bodies include Lee Gulch (river), Dutch (river), South Platte River Below Union Ave, (river), Little Dry Creek Nr Arapahoe (river), Little Dry Creek Above Englewood (river).

What Zion residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

8
Total violations
0
Health-based
0
Active / unresolved
Oct 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

8 Total
0 Active
0 Health-based
8 Resolved
Violations by category
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
6
Revised Total Coliform Rule
1
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
1
Oct 2025 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Oct 2025 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Apr 2025 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jun 2025
Apr 2025 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jun 2025
Oct 2024 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2024
Oct 2024 Resolved
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2024
Aug 2019 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring
Monitoring Resolved Aug 2019
Jul 2019 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Sep 2019
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D4 — exceptional drought

Lake County is currently in D4 (exceptional drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). 96.3% of the county is in D4 (exceptional) drought. Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

14
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
11.0%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
14
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 0.0 ppb from 2018 (0.0 ppb) to 2025 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Surface Water
Operator
Private
Population Served
624
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Zion's water comes from

Purchased Surface Water

Zion's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

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 private ownership and serves approximately 624 people through 1 water system.

Local Hydrology

Water bodies near Zion

Zion is located near 5 notable water bodies. As a surface water system, these water bodies may directly influence the city's drinking water supply.

Lee Gulch
river
Dutch
river
South Platte River Below Union Ave,
river
Little Dry Creek Nr Arapahoe
river
Little Dry Creek Above Englewood
river
Infrastructure

Water systems serving Zion

System Name PWSID Population Source
BEACH MHP IL0970010 624 SWP
Regional Comparison

How Zion compares

Full Colorado rankings →

Zion's score of 90.3/100 is above the average of 45/100 among major Colorado cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Zion (this city)
90.3
Denver
39.6
Aurora
38.1
Lakewood
36.9
Colorado avg
45
City Profile

About Zion, CO

Wikipedia →

Denver is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Officially a consolidated city and county, it is located in the South Platte River valley on the western edge of the High Plains, and is just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains (Rockies). Denver is the 19th-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous state capital, with a population of 715,522 at the 2020 census. The ten-county Denver metropolitan area, with over 3.05 million residents, is the 19th-largest metropolitan area in the country and functions as the economic and cultural center of the broader Front Range Urban Corridor.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Zion, CO tap water safe to drink?

Zion's water quality earned a grade of A (90.3/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #18 out of 246 cities tested in Colorado.

What contaminants are in Zion's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 8 violations are on record.

How is Zion'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 Zion?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Zion's water come from?

Zion's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 624 residents.

How does Zion's water compare to other cities?

Zion ranks #18 out of 246 cities in Colorado (better than 93% of state cities) and #2318 out of 15744 cities nationally (85th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Zion's small water system affect quality?

Zion's system serves approximately 624 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 8 violations on record.