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Is Ft Collins Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:48 pm, August 6, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Ft Collins?

Yes, Ft Collins's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Ft Collins has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Ft Collins's local Twitter account.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Ft Collins's water utility, City of Ft Collins, had 2 non-health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Ft Collins was resolved on June 30, 2021. This assessment is based on the City of Ft Collins water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.

While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.

The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.

Water Quality Report for Ft Collins Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Ft Collins tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.

Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.

EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.

There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.

We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Ft Collins's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Ft Collins Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Ft Collins for Ft Collins in Colorado. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

From April 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021, Ft Collins had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

From Dec. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017, Ft Collins had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.

From Dec. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017, Ft Collins had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Treatment Technique Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.

From Feb. 1, 2017 to Feb. 28, 2017, Ft Collins had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Surface Water Treatment Rule.

From Jan. 1, 2017 to March 31, 2017, Ft Collins had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Chlorine.

Is there Lead in Ft Collins Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Ft Collins water system, City of Ft Collins, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.002 mg/L of lead in Ft Collins water. This is 13.3% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Ft Collins contained more lead.

While Ft Collins water testing may have found 0.002 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.

No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.

Are there PFAS in Ft Collins Tap Water?

Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - F.E. Warren Air Force Base - near Ft Collins with suspected leaks.

With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Ft Collins has been evaluated for yet.

Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.

Ft Collins SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years

Compliance Period Status Health-Based? Category Code Code Rule Code Contaminant Code Rule Group Code Rule Family Code
04/01/2021 - 06/30/2021 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) TTHM (2950) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220)
04/01/2021 - 06/30/2021 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220)
12/01/2017 - 12/31/2017 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) (38) Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (122) Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (0300) Microbials (100) Surface Water Treatment Rules (120)
12/01/2017 - 12/31/2017 Resolved Yes Treatment Technique Violation (TT) Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) (43) Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (122) Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (0300) Microbials (100) Surface Water Treatment Rules (120)
02/01/2017 - 02/28/2017 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) (36) Surface Water Treatment Rule (121) Surface Water Treatment Rule (0200) Microbials (100) Surface Water Treatment Rules (120)
01/01/2017 - 03/31/2017 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) Chlorine (0999) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210)

What do these Violations Mean?

Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.

Health Based Violations

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
  2. Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
  3. Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.

SDWA Table Key

Field Description
Compliance Period Dates of the compliance period.
Status Current status of the violation.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
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Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
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Code A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table.
Contaminant Code A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation.
Rule Code Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
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Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
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Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Ft Collins Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I CONTACT FT COLLINS CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Ft Collins water provider, City of Ft Collins, please use the information below.
By Phone: 970-221-6692
By Email: mkempton@fcgov.com
By Mail: 4316 LAPORTE AVE
FORT COLLINS, CO, 80521
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR CITY OF FT COLLINS
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their City of Ft Collins account to pay their Ft Collins water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your City of Ft Collins bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Ft Collins water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Ft Collins water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.

HOW TO START & STOP FT COLLINS WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Ft Collins means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Ft Collins. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Ft Collins means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Ft Collins. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.

Stop Service Form

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Ft Collins tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 22% Low
  • Water Pollution 39% Low
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 78% High
  • Water Quality 61% High

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Ft Collins, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Ft Collins Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Ft Collins's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

2020

WATER QUALITY REPORT

COMMITTED TO QUALITY

Fort Collins Utilities remains committed to delivering high-quality drinking water. Look inside this report to learn where your drinking water comes from, how it compares to drinking water standards and about community participation.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Community members are welcome to attend Utilities’ Water Commission meetings, a citizen committee that advises City Council on matters of policy and budget. Please see the schedule and location at fcgov.com/cityclerk/water.

PROTECTING AND TREATING SOURCE WATER

Utilities collaborates with local drinking water providers and other water stakeholders to monitor water quality trends in the Poudre River, Big Thompson River and Horsetooth Reservoir

  • Monitoring includes 25+ naturally occurring chemicals, physical and microbiological parameters at 35 locations throughout our source watersheds.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

970-212-2900 V/TDD: 711 utilities@fcgov.com

RADIOACTIVE

CONTAMINANTS

INORGANICS

ORGANICS

MICROBIALS

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM

AND GIARDIA

CHLORINE

TEST RESULTS

Utilities’ Water Quality Lab performed approximately 16,150 water quality analyses on just over 3,639 samples.

To ensure tap water is safe to drink, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulates what is in drinking water.

Para más información de este informe de su cualidad de agua potable en español, llame Fort Collins Utilities a 970-212-2900, V/TDD: 711 o mande preguntas en español a utilities@fcgov.com.

Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. 21-23103

1

WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS

RAW AND FINISHED WATER SAMPLES

Parameter

Average

Range

Number of Samples

Unit of Measure

Minimum Ratio

Meet Standard?

Typical Sources

Total Organic Carbon Ratio, Utilities

1.2

1 to 1.54

12

Ratio

1.00

Yes

Naturally present in the environment

 

 

 

 

Total Organic Carbon Ratio, SCFP

1.27

1.09 to 1.47

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAMPLED AT THE ENTRY POINT TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Parameter

Month

Result

Standard

Meet

Typical Sources

Standard?

Turbidity, Utilities

September

Highest single measurement: 0.86 NTU

Maximum is 1 NTU for any single

 

 

Turbidity, SCFP

January

Highest single measurement: 0.127 NTU

measurement

Yes

Soil Runoff

 

 

 

 

 

Turbidity, Utilities

All 12 months

During all 12 months of 2020, 100% of samples were less than 0.3 NTU.

In any month, at least 95% of samples

 

 

Turbidity, SCFP

All 12 months

During all 12 months of 2020, 100% of samples were less than 0.3 NTU.

must be less than 0.3 NTU

 

 

 

 

 

Turbidity is a measure of the clarity of the water and is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the filtration system.

Parameter

Result

Number of

Unit of

MCL

MCLG

Meet

Typical Sources

Samples

Measure

Standard?

Barium, Utilities

0.01

1

 

2

2

 

Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits

Barium, SCFP

0.01

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fluoride, Utilities

0.61

1

ppm

4

4

Yes

Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth

Fluoride, SCFP

0.66

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nitrate, Utilities

0.06

1

 

10

10

 

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks; sewage; erosion of natural deposits

SAMPLED IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Parameter

Date

Standard

Results

Number of Samples

Number of Samples

Meet Standard?

Typical Sources

Not Meeting Standards

 

All months

At least 95% of samples per

100% of all monthly samples

0

 

 

 

 

month must have a chlorine

had a chlorine residual of at

 

 

 

Chlorine

of 2020

residual of at least 0.2 ppm

least 0.2 ppm

 

Monthly sample size

 

Water additive used to control

 

 

 

 

ranged from 121-

Yes

Residual

All

 

The running annual average

 

microbes

The running annual average

 

150 samples

 

 

quarters of

for all four quarters of 2020

0

 

 

 

 

must be <=4.0 ppm

 

 

 

 

2020

 

was <4.0 ppm

 

 

 

 

Parameter

Monitoring Period

Result

Standard

Unit of Measure

Number of Samples

Number of Sample Sites

Meet Standard?

Typical Sources

Above Standard

Copper

7/08/2020 to

0.11

1.3

ppm

55

0

Yes

Corrosion of household plumbing

Lead

8/17/2020

2.5

15

ppb

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parameter

Average

Range

Number of Samples

Unit of Measure

MCL

MCLG

Meet Standard?

Typical Sources

Haloacetic Acids

20.28

13.3 to 39

32

 

60

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Trihalomethanes

24.95

15.54 to 39.2

32

ppb

80

N/A

Yes

Byproduct of drinking water disinfection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chlorite

0.3

0.16 to 0.36

12

 

1.0

0.8

 

 

Unregulated Contaminants1

Year

Average

Range

 

Number of Samples

Unit of Measure

Sample Site

HAA6Br2

 

2.57

1.66 - 4

16

 

Distribution System

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAA92

 

27.87

18.73

- 38.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

 

 

ppb

 

Manganese

1.25

1.1

- 1.4

2

Finished Water

 

TOC

 

4100

2600

- 7900

4

 

 

 

 

Untreated Source Water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. In 2020, EPA required that we monitor for contaminants that are not currently regulated. EPA plans to use this data in their decision regarding whether to regulate the contaminants. For more information, please see www.fcgov.com/utilities/unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule-ucmr-4
  2. HAA are haloacetic acids. Five are already regulated (HAA5) and include dibromoacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid, monochloroacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid. Four additional brominated acetic acids were evaluated for UCMR4 and include bromochloroacetic acid, bromodichloroacetic acid, dibromochloroacetic acid, and tribromoacetic acid. HAA6Br includes the six brominated compounds, and HAA9 is the sum of all nine compounds.

Our Water Treatment Facility produces nearly all the water it distributes. However, customers may occasionally receive a blend of water treated by Utilities and the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant (SCFP). Both treatment facilities use Horsetooth Reservoir and the Cache la Poudre River as sources of water. The SCFP is owned by Soldier Canyon Water Treatment Authority. To determine your water provider, view an interactive map of water districts in Fort Collins and surrounding areas.

  • The monitoring results shown here are representative of water treated by Utilities and the SCFP. All data are from monitoring completed during 2020.

DEFINITIONS

AL: Action level — concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow

CDPHE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency

MCL: Maximum contaminant level — highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water; MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible, using the best available treatment technology

MCLG: Maximum contaminant level goal — level of a contaminant in drinking water, below which there is no known or expected risk to health; MCLGs allow for a margin of safety

N/A: Not applicable

NTU: Nephelometric turbidity unit — measure of particles in the water or clarity

ppb: Parts of contaminant per billion parts of water, µg/L

ppm: Parts of contaminant per million parts of water, mg/L

SCFP: Soldier Canyon Filter Plant

Watershed: Land area that collects, stores and drains water into a shared network of streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs

2

TREATING SOURCE WATER

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses

a health risk.

As water travels over the land’s surface or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals and humans. To ensure tap water is safe to drink, the CDPHE regulates the amount of certain contaminants in water from public water systems.

SOURCE WATER

MAY CONTAIN:

ORGANIC CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS

Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production. These contaminants also may come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.

INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which may be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.

PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES

Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.

MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.

RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS

Radioactive contaminants, which may be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND GIARDIA

Cryptosporidium and Giardia come from animal and human waste in the watershed and are common in untreated surface water. When ingested, the organisms may cause fever, nausea and diarrhea. They are removed by a well-maintained water treatment process.

In 2020, Fort Collins Utilities tested our untreated source water for the organisms. Giardia was found in the Poudre River samples. Neither organism was found in the Horsetooth Reservoir samples.

More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be

obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking3 Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or visiting epa.gov/safewater.

PROTECTING AND TREATING OUR SOURCE WATER

Our drinking water supply comes from two sources: the upper Cache la Poudre River (Poudre River) and Horsetooth Reservoir. Poudre River water originates as rain and snow in the mountains on the eastern slope of the Continental Divide, northwest of Fort Collins. Horsetooth water is delivered from the Colorado River Basin on the western slope via the Colorado-Big Thompson Water Project.

SOURCE WATER QUALITY MONITORING

Utilities’ Watershed Program collaborates with regional partners to monitor water quality trends in the Poudre River, Big Thompson River and Horsetooth Reservoir. Monitoring includes analyses of chemical, physical and biological parameters throughout our source watersheds. As in previous years, 2020 water quality data indicated that our source watersheds continue to provide high-quality water (learn more at fcgov.com/source-water-monitoring).

The Cameron Peak (208,913 acres) and East Troublesome wildfires (192,457 acres) are the two largest in Colorado history. Neither fire directly impacted the City’s drinking water infrastructure and source water quality was not impacted in 2020. There will likely be significant source water quality impacts to the Upper Cache la Poudre and Horsetooth Reservoir supplies in 2021. The Watershed Program is developing post-fire water quality monitoring recovery plans for both watersheds.

SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLAN

The City of Fort Collins’ Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP) was completed in 2016. The SWPP identifies and prioritizes major pollution threats to our water sources and identifies key protection or mitigation strategies. The threat of large-scale catastrophic wildfires has been identified as the highest priority threat to our source water quality and drinking water infrastructure; historical mines and flooding are a moderate priority. Utilities began working closely with the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) and other stakeholders to improve the health and resiliency of the Poudre River following the High Park Fire of 2012. CPRW is leading the Cameron Peak Wildfire local recovery group, including identifying priority restoration areas and projects aimed at protecting our source water quality.

Watershed Technician Casey Barby collects water quality samples on the Cache la Poudre River.

Photo looking through a stand of forest adjacent to Chambers Lake that was severely burned in the Cameron Peak Wildfire

Learn more about our Watershed Program and source water monitoring efforts, including seasonal updates, annual and five-year reports at fcgov.com/source-water-monitoring.

fcgov.com/utilities utilities@fcgov.com 970-212-2900 V/TDD: 711

4

FLUORIDATION

As directed by City Council and our customers, Utilities adds fluoride to the water, resulting in levels that range from 0.60 to 0.75 milligrams of fluoride per liter of treated water.

If you or members of your household are sensitive to fluoride or fluoridation-related substances or if you provide our water to an infant younger than six months of age, please consult your physician or another health expert regarding precautions you may want to consider.

Visit fcgov.com/water/fluoride.php for more information.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy;

persons who have undergone organ transplants; people with HIV/AIDS or other immune-system disorders; some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers.

EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

LONG-STANDING CORROSION CONTROL

Fort Collins Utilities’ source water has a low mineral content and is naturally soft because it comes from snowmelt and rainfall. Without additional treatment, soft water can be corrosive.

To help prevent corrosion (the leaching of metals) of water mains, services lines and home plumbing, Utilities began implementing specific treatment measures in 1984. These measures continue today. This additional treatment, which includes adding calcium and carbon dioxide to the water before it leaves the treatment plant, helps minimize corrosion. As a check to ensure our approach is effective, and as required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Utilities monitors lead and copper levels in the drinking water of 50 homes annually. These tests have shown the levels to be substantially below EPA’s action level.

If our source water has a low mineral content, where do the metals come from? If there is lead present in drinking water, it is primarily from plumbing leading to or inside a home. Some plumbing installed in homes built after the mid-1980s included a combination of copper pipes and lead solder. If this plumbing corrodes or deteriorates, lead can seep into the water if it sits in the pipes for an extended period.

While Utilities provides high-quality drinking water to our customers, we have limited control regarding the material used in home plumbing. You share responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from lead in your home plumbing. Ways to protect your family include identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing.

Also, consider flushing your water line first thingin the morning or after it has been stagnant for six or more hours. This flushing can include running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water.

If you have concerns about your water quality or questions about water testing, contact the Water Quality Lab at 970-221-6863 or V/TDD 711. Any concerns about home plumbing should be directed to a licensed plumber.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. For more information, testing methods and steps to minimize exposure, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791

or visit: epa.gov/safewater/lead

fcgov.com/utilities utilities@fcgov.com 970-212-2900 V/TDD: 711 21-23103

5

Contaminants


Ft Collins Loveland WD

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility details

  • Serves: 40417
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Purchased surface water
  • Total: 13

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Chlorite
  • Chloroform
  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Dichloroacetic acid
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
  • Trichloroacetic acid

Other Detected Contaminants

  • Chlorate
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Monochloroacetic acid
  • Strontium
  • Vanadium

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

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