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Lead Contamination

Lead in Colorado Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

244
Cities Tested
3
Exceeds Limit
1%
% Exceeds Limit
2.0 ppb
State Avg
▼ 1% vs national
vs National
205
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in Colorado: what the data shows

Colorado has 244 cities with lead monitoring data, with very few cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 2.0 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. 3 cities exceed the 15 ppb action level. High lead levels in tap water typically indicate aging infrastructure — lead service lines, lead solder in older plumbing, or lead-containing brass fixtures. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

Colorado
1%
3 of 244 cities
← ▼ 1% below national rate (better)
National avg
2%
352 of 15325 cities
City Map

Lead data across Colorado

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in Colorado

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

  1. 1 C Keystone 32.0 ppb Yes 11K
  2. 2 F Rocky Ford 27.5 ppb Yes 6K
  3. 3 F Hotchkiss 17.0 ppb Yes 4K
  4. 4 F Ignacio 10.5 ppb 3K
  5. 5 A- Fort Carson 10.4 ppb 48K
  6. 6 C+ Berthoud 10.0 ppb 40K
  7. 7 C Fairplay 9.5 ppb 1K
  8. 8 F Durango 8.8 ppb 47K
  9. 9 F Frisco 8.5 ppb 5K
  10. 10 F Crawford 8.4 ppb 1K
All Cities

All Colorado cities ranked by lead level

# City Level Level Exceeds? Violations Grade
1 Keystone 32.0 ppb
Yes 1
C
2 Rocky Ford 27.5 ppb
Yes 325
F
3 Hotchkiss 17.0 ppb
Yes 145
F
4 Ignacio 10.5 ppb
No 6
F
5 Fort Carson 10.4 ppb
No 0
A-
6 Berthoud 10.0 ppb
No 8
C+
7 Fairplay 9.5 ppb
No 2
C
8 Durango 8.8 ppb
No 112
F
9 Frisco 8.5 ppb
No 7
F
10 Crawford 8.4 ppb
No 31
F
11 Grand Junction 8.2 ppb
No 4
B
12 Dillon 8.0 ppb
No 0
C+
13 Granby 8.0 ppb
No 9
C-
14 Moffat 8.0 ppb
No 1
B-
15 Idaho Springs 7.0 ppb
No 28
B
16 Austin 7.0 ppb
No 0
B+
17 Clark 6.6 ppb
No 6
C-
18 Woodland 6.2 ppb
No 1
B-
19 Gainesville 6.1 ppb
No 2
A-
20 Evergreen 6.0 ppb
No 57
F
21 Delta 6.0 ppb
No 1
A-
22 Georgetown 6.0 ppb
No 2
A-
23 Olathe 6.0 ppb
No 0
B
24 Copper Mountain 5.0 ppb
No 1
B+
25 Antonito 5.0 ppb
No 17
F
26 Haxtun 5.0 ppb
No 13
C
27 Sedalia 5.0 ppb
No 9
C+
28 Fountain 4.4 ppb
No 4
F
29 Cripple Creek 4.4 ppb
No 1
B
30 Grand Lake 4.3 ppb
No 3
B+
31 Telluride 4.2 ppb
No 21
D
32 Lamar 4.0 ppb
No 14
B-
33 Silt 4.0 ppb
No 28
F
34 Hudson 4.0 ppb
No 12
D
35 Conifer 4.0 ppb
No 12
B+
36 Cheyenne Wells 4.0 ppb
No 11
B
37 Granada 4.0 ppb
No 11
D
38 Fort Collins 3.9 ppb
No 6
D
39 La Porte 3.9 ppb
No 3
A-
40 Estes Park 3.5 ppb
No 49
D
41 La Veta 3.5 ppb
No 26
F
42 Lucerne 3.4 ppb
No 0
B+
43 Loveland 3.0 ppb
No 50
F
44 Fort Morgan 3.0 ppb
No 5
A-
45 Eagle 3.0 ppb
No 4
C+
46 Dacono 3.0 ppb
No 2
A-
47 Bayfield 3.0 ppb
No 25
D
48 Colorado City 3.0 ppb
No 34
F
49 Meeker 3.0 ppb
No 6
C+
50 Kremmling 3.0 ppb
No 3
C
51 Calhan 3.0 ppb
No 3
D+
52 Fowler 3.0 ppb
No 25
B
53 Kiowa 3.0 ppb
No 0
A-
54 Hugo 3.0 ppb
No 2
B-
55 Ft Morgan 3.0 ppb
No 61
F
56 Empire 3.0 ppb
No 14
C+
57 Frederick 2.9 ppb
No 1
B-
58 Administrative Contact 2.8 ppb
No 9
F
59 Morrison 2.7 ppb
No 12
C+
60 Erie 2.6 ppb
No 1
A
61 Edgewater 2.6 ppb
No 0
A-
62 Hayden 2.4 ppb
No 6
D
63 Parachute 2.4 ppb
No 1
A-
64 Parker 2.3 ppb
No 4
F
65 Dolores 2.3 ppb
No 1
B
66 Cortez 2.2 ppb
No 7
D
67 Winter Park 2.1 ppb
No 7
D
68 Silverton 2.1 ppb
No 1
A-
69 Broomfield 2.0 ppb
No 5
B
70 Highlands Ranch 2.0 ppb
No 0
B-
71 Vail 2.0 ppb
No 0
A
72 Canon City 2.0 ppb
No 4
B+
73 Pueblo West 2.0 ppb
No 5
B-
74 Breckenridge 2.0 ppb
No 4
B+
75 Gypsum 2.0 ppb
No 1
A+
76 Black Hawk 2.0 ppb
No 0
A-
77 Severance 2.0 ppb
No 0
A
78 Cedaredge 2.0 ppb
No 67
D
79 Craig 2.0 ppb
No 0
B
80 Eaton 2.0 ppb
No 1
B-
81 Manitou Springs 2.0 ppb
No 4
A
82 Rangely 2.0 ppb
No 3
C+
83 Akron 2.0 ppb
No 4
B
84 Wiley 2.0 ppb
No 376
D+
85 Norwood 2.0 ppb
No 44
B-
86 Julesburg 2.0 ppb
No 4
B-
87 Minturn 2.0 ppb
No 2
B+
88 Pine Bluffs 2.0 ppb
No 17
D+
89 Pine Bluffs 2.0 ppb
No 17
D+
90 Williamsburg 2.0 ppb
No 0
B
91 Swink 2.0 ppb
No 12
A-
92 Simla 2.0 ppb
No 3
A-
93 Northglenn 1.7 ppb
No 0
A+
94 Federal Heights 1.7 ppb
No 0
B+
95 Oak Creek 1.7 ppb
No 28
D
96 Hillrose 1.5 ppb
No 15
B+
97 South Fork 1.5 ppb
No 8
D
98 Gilcrest 1.4 ppb
No 2
B+
99 Debeque 1.4 ppb
No 3
C+
100 Basalt 1.3 ppb
No 6
D
101 Ault 1.3 ppb
No 0
B+
102 Ouray 1.3 ppb
No 1
C-
103 Naturita 1.3 ppb
No 12
C-
104 Pagosa Springs 1.2 ppb
No 25
F
105 Florence 1.2 ppb
No 2
C+
106 Towoac 1.2 ppb
No 5
D
107 Ridgway 1.2 ppb
No 11
D+
108 Nucla 1.1 ppb
No 9
D
109 Rockvale 1.1 ppb
No 2
B
110 Westminster 1.0 ppb
No 1
D
111 Littleton 1.0 ppb
No 16
F
112 Johnstown 1.0 ppb
No 6
B
113 Niwot 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
114 Wellington 1.0 ppb
No 4
B-
115 Silverthorne 1.0 ppb
No 3
D+
116 Gunnison 1.0 ppb
No 14
C
117 Redvale 1.0 ppb
No 0
D
118 Buena Vista 1.0 ppb
No 13
F
119 Bennett 1.0 ppb
No 5
A-
120 Larkspur 1.0 ppb
No 11
D+
121 Burlington 1.0 ppb
No 84
C-
122 Platteville 1.0 ppb
No 0
B+
123 Nederland 1.0 ppb
No 5
A-
124 Crestone 1.0 ppb
No 2
B-
125 Strasburg 1.0 ppb
No 19
D
126 Wiggins 1.0 ppb
No 16
D+
127 El Jebel 1.0 ppb
No 3
B-
128 Del Norte 1.0 ppb
No 4
B
129 Springfield 1.0 ppb
No 4
B+
130 Indian Hills 1.0 ppb
No 8
B
131 Holly 1.0 ppb
No 60
D+
132 Pierce 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
133 Byers 1.0 ppb
No 3
A
134 Mulberry 1.0 ppb
No 1
B-
135 Rock Springs 1.0 ppb
No 3
B
136 Walsh 1.0 ppb
No 18
D+
137 Saguache 1.0 ppb
No 1
D+
138 Salida 0.9 ppb
No 2
D
139 Palmer Lake 0.9 ppb
No 15
D
140 Hot Sulphur Springs 0.9 ppb
No 4
A-
141 Clifton 0.8 ppb
No 2
A
142 Stratton 0.8 ppb
No 8
C-
143 Glenwood Springs 0.7 ppb
No 17
F
144 Usaf Academy 0.6 ppb
No 3
A
145 Rifle 0.6 ppb
No 64
D
146 La Junta 0.6 ppb
No 245
F
147 Dove Creek 0.6 ppb
No 8
C-
148 Wheat Ridge 0.5 ppb
No 56
D
149 Firestone 0.5 ppb
No 0
A-
150 Greenwood Village 0.5 ppb
No 24
F
151 Crested Butte 0.5 ppb
No 12
C-
152 Watkins 0.5 ppb
No 3
D
153 Penrose 0.5 ppb
No 5
A-
154 Divide 0.5 ppb
No 49
F
155 Bailey 0.5 ppb
No 1
C
156 Monument 0.4 ppb
No 23
F
157 Palisade 0.3 ppb
No 2
C-
158 Nathrop 0.2 ppb
No 14
B+
159 Denver 0.0 ppb
No 104
F
160 Aurora 0.0 ppb
No 22
F
161 Colorado Springs 0.0 ppb
No 117
F
162 Lakewood 0.0 ppb
No 28
F
163 Thornton 0.0 ppb
No 3
F
164 Arvada 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
165 Boulder 0.0 ppb
No 15
F
166 Greeley 0.0 ppb
No 16
F
167 Pueblo 0.0 ppb
No 15
F
168 Castle Rock 0.0 ppb
No 20
F
169 Centennial 0.0 ppb
No 18
F
170 Longmont 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
171 Englewood 0.0 ppb
No 33
D
172 Commerce City 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
173 Brighton 0.0 ppb
No 18
F
174 Golden 0.0 ppb
No 18
B-
175 Montrose 0.0 ppb
No 7
F
176 Aspen 0.0 ppb
No 2
D
177 Lafayette 0.0 ppb
No 19
F
178 Steamboat Springs 0.0 ppb
No 57
F
179 Windsor 0.0 ppb
No 51
D
180 Louisville 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
181 Evans 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
182 Falcon 0.0 ppb
No 1
D
183 Superior 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
184 Sterling 0.0 ppb
No 29
C-
185 Fort Lupton 0.0 ppb
No 35
D
186 Peyton 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
187 Trinidad 0.0 ppb
No 12
D
188 Castle Pines 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
189 Alamosa 0.0 ppb
No 44
D
190 Milliken 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
191 Carbondale 0.0 ppb
No 77
F
192 Leadville 0.0 ppb
No 3
D
193 Glendale 0.0 ppb
No 3
D
194 Lochbuie 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
195 Limon 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
196 Snowmass Village 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
197 New Castle 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
198 Fraser 0.0 ppb
No 0
C-
199 Elizabeth 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
200 Keenesburg 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
201 Monte Vista 0.0 ppb
No 10
D+
202 Walsenburg 0.0 ppb
No 47
D
203 Yuma 0.0 ppb
No 12
C+
204 Paonia 0.0 ppb
No 29
D
205 Central City 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
206 Lyons 0.0 ppb
No 61
D
207 Mount Crested Butte 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
208 Mancos 0.0 ppb
No 3
C
209 Holyoke 0.0 ppb
No 8
C+
210 Center 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
211 Woodland Park 0.0 ppb
No 55
D
212 Las Animas 0.0 ppb
No 6
B+
213 Wray 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
214 Ordway 0.0 ppb
No 4
C+
215 Flagler 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
216 Kersey 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
217 Lasalle 0.0 ppb
No 1
C+
218 Westcliffe 0.0 ppb
No 0
B-
219 Creede 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
220 Edwards 0.0 ppb
No 43
C
221 Deer Trail 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
222 Poncha Springs 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
223 San Luis 0.0 ppb
No 9
D
224 West Columbia 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
225 Log Lane Village 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
226 Manassa 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
227 Manzanola 0.0 ppb
No 340
D+
228 Pelham 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
229 Beulah 0.0 ppb
No 66
D
230 Sanford 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
231 La Jara 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
232 Rye 0.0 ppb
No 69
D
233 Des Plaines 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
234 Collbran 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
235 Eads 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
236 Lake City 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
237 Walden 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
238 Zion 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
239 Otis 0.0 ppb
No 2
C+
240 Tabernash 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
241 Dubuque 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
242 Woody Creek 0.0 ppb
No 2
D+
243 Diamond 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
244 Decatur 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in Colorado

Is lead in Colorado tap water a concern?

Yes — 3 of 244 cities with lead data exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average is 2.0 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from Colorado tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which Colorado cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in Colorado are: Keystone (32.0 ppb), Rocky Ford (27.5 ppb), Hotchkiss (17.0 ppb), Ignacio (10.5 ppb), Fort Carson (10.4 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

More contaminants

Other contaminants in Colorado

PFAS in Colorado
Ranked by compounds detected
→
Copper in Colorado
Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)
→
HAA5 in Colorado
Ranked by average concentration (µg/L)
→
Chromium-6 in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Arsenic in Colorado
Ranked by violation count
→
Nitrate in Colorado
Ranked by violation count
→
Strontium in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
1,4-Dioxane in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Manganese in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Vanadium in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Chlorate in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Molybdenum in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Cobalt in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Lithium in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
NDMA in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (ng/L)
→
Perchlorate in Colorado
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
All states

Lead in drinking water by state

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore Colorado water quality → National Lead map →