Colorado Impact

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is the primary authority in Colorado for enforcing the federal Safe Drinking Water Act by the EPA. As part of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Department of Water Quality Control is responsible for implementing programs that support the Safe Drinking Water Act. The aim is to equip public water systems so that they can always provide the public with safe drinking water. These goals are achieved through enforcement of local laws, regulations, permits and regular inspections of public water systems.

Water Contamination Control

Many municipal drinking water systems rely on surface water for their water supply, such as sewage treatment plants, and municipal waterworks. Water authorities in Colorado are tasked with developing water quality plans for the local support unit that provides tools to reduce the risk of water supply contamination. Colorado uses four primary mechanisms to control water pollution, including discharge permits, control regulations, voluntary controls, and grants. Colorado has also introduced a rule requiring a Consumer Confidence Reporting System (CCS) for municipal drinking water. 

The system is governed by Colorado's drinking water regulations, which are based upon the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water Act. Permits are issued by the state Department of Water Quality and are required and regulated by law to set limits on pollutants that are discharged into the environment in Colorado. 

Colorado Drinking Water Concerns

According to the Colorado Division of Water Resources, sewage treatment plants, industrial plants and other wastewater treatment plants must monitor certain regulated substances. To manage this, Colorado's Water Quality Control Division proposes rules requiring sewage treatment plants and industrial plants to monitor specific chemicals. It has also established guidelines to limit them in future wastewater permits. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA can order utilities to test for substances on a watch list known as the Contaminant Candidate List.

In June 2020, Colorado proposed policies to help regulate poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” These chemicals are common ingredients in everything from jet fuel, nonstick pans to spray foam. PFAS have been linked to cancer and complications with pregnancy. Because federal efforts to regulate the chemicals have lagged, states have been left to take action on their own. In Colorado, the EPA has not named any of the PFAS substances as candidates for monitoring, meaning public water utilities are not required to monitor them. 

Since 2012, Denver residents in some areas have experienced some increased levels of lead in their drinking water. This is mostly a result of outdated lead pipes. While Denver Water does supply lead-free water to households and businesses, water can pick up lead through outdated systems. In response, Denver Water will oversee the implementation of a 15-year plan intended to slowly and systematically replace the old service lines.

Colorado Water Regulation Resources

The Colorado Water Quality Control Division is dedicated to improving the water quality of public systems in the State of Colorado. To learn more about the policies that are enforced both at the Federal and State level, click on the resources below.

Federal statutes

• EPA: Clean Water Act.
• EPA: Safe Drinking Water Act.

Colorado regulations 

• Water Quality Control Commission regulations.
• Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board regulation.
• CDPHE regulations.

Alternatives to Public Drinking Water

If you’re interested in Colorado drinking water alternatives to tap water, you’re in luck. A natural spring water option located in Eldorado Springs, Colorado (just outside Boulder, Colorado) emanate from one of the most unique water sources in the world. This artesian spring creates a natural filter that continually produces pure, perfect spring water. Don’t worry about inconveniencing yourself with going to the grocery store and stocking up on bottles, Eldorado Natural Spring Water delivers the water to you each month like clockwork. Simply use the calculator to determine how much water you need each month, place your order and Eldorado takes care of the rest.

Choose Your Colorado Zip Code

The snow that falls on the mountains in Colorado contributes to more than just the beautiful scenery. Snow and other precipitation ultimately provide both the surface water and the groundwater that we use for drinking—not to mention the water that powers rivers and fills lakes for activities like rafting and fishing.

The majority of the life-giving water in Colorado's rivers and streams originates along the continental divide that runs through the majestic mountains. Colorado residents and visitors have a responsibility to keep our waterways free of litter and other pollutants to ensure a clean water supply to our amazing state.

Colorado Waterways and Droughts

Since 2000, the Colorado River Basin has been locked in a drought that experts say is likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Most of Colorado's water comes from snow that falls in the Rocky Mountains and is released into natural reservoirs that are gradually utilized over the course of the year. Beginning in 2000, snow has fallen more irregularly in the mountains, including in recent years when totals have been only two-thirds of normal—a concerning record low. 

In addition, worsening droughts and rising temperatures have caused the Colorado River to shrink in recent years. In response, scientists are developing models to better understand how the climate crisis is fundamentally changing this critical 1,450-mile waterway.

Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey have found that human-caused global warming, especially in recent decades, has caused rivers to absorb more solar energy, increasing the amount of water lost through evaporation. They've also found that the Colorado River is dwindling, threatening serious water shortages for millions of people who rely on it. 

Groundwater Contamination

Ground water is water from rain and snow that that soaks into the soil. It is a vital resource in Colorado.

When water works its way through the soil to the underground "water table," it can pick up nitrogen, phosphorus and other contaminants. Pollutants in the soil can come from many sources including leakage from landfills, wastewater treatment plants and sanitation systems, gas stations and sewers, as well as from fertilizers used in agriculture.

The polluted water can then end up in public drinking water systems, posing public heath threats to Colorado residents.

Sustaining Colorado Watersheds

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper directed the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to develop Colorado's water plan for the future. The top priorities were to strengthen urban water protection, safeguard water quality, improve water management, enhance vital river and catchment protection measures and support flexible water policies.

Over a two-year period, CWCB's roundtables have brought together stakeholders with a wide range of water needs, including farmers, ranchers, urban and rural communities and water providers to discuss the importance of flexible and reliable water supplies and to brainstorm ideas for maintaining them.

Colorado Businesses Promoting Sustainability

Businesses in Colorado are also getting involved in green initiatives and sustainability measures in response to a growing demand from consumers. Colorado consumers are increasingly looking to do business with brands that align with their values and that are making efforts to protect the environment and our natural resources.

It's critical that Colorado businesses learn to meet their present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In order to achieve this goal, organizations should examine their approach not only to water consumption, but also to energy, materials, recycling, transportation and other aspects of their operation to determine what changes need to occur to make their business more sustainable for the future.

As a bottled spring water and bulk water delivery provider, Eldorado Natural Spring Water has long been a leading advocate of sustainability initiatives in Colorado. We're proud to say that we were the first bottled water company in the U.S. to introduce 100% recycled plastic bottles. Recycled bottles require 77% less energy to produce and generate 58% fewer emissions in the production process.

In addition, we recycle 96% of the waste from our bottling plant, including paper, cardboard and plastic. We even generate 50% of the energy for our Colorado headquarters from a rooftop solar system.

In short, we're serious about protecting the Colorado environment that gives us all so much. 

"Hardness" is a property of water determined by the amounts of dissolved minerals it contains, specifically calcium and magnesium. Most people associate the term with water quality and also with a build-up of material in their shower or sink. This accumulation occurs because soapsuds can’t be produced until dissolved minerals in the water have been combined with soap. Those minerals that are removed from the water remain as an insoluble residue. 

How Water Becomes Hard

Water hardness is generally the highest in groundwater where the topsoil is thick and carbonate formations are present. As rain falls, it absorbs carbon dioxide produced from bacteria in the topsoil. The rainwater and carbon dioxide mix to form carbonic acid. Carbonic acid dissolves the carbonate compounds found in limestone and dolomite. This process is enhanced by acid rain. The degree of hardness increases as the calcium and magnesium amount increases and is related to the concentration of multivalent cations dissolved in the water.

Water Hardness Classification

Water hardness is a relative term and typically reported in milligrams per liter (mg/L) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), or grains per gallon (gpg).

Colorado Water Hardness

Colorado Springs Utilities reports a hardness measurement of 1.3 – 2.8 grains per gallon (gpg), which gives its water a relatively soft rating. For comparison, Denver has a reported 4.2 gpg and the city of Pueblo has the state's hardest water at 10.6 gpg.

In an example on the far end of the spectrum, London's water is derived mainly from the River Thames and River Lea, which draw a significant proportion of their dry weather flow from springs and limestone aquifers. Consequently, drinking water there is very hard with 11.7 gpg of calcium carbonate.

Here in the U.S., people living in areas like Pueblo can use water softeners that replace the calcium and magnesium content of hard water with sodium. Plasticizers are another method of converting hard water into soft water. The process uses sodium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron, which are dissolved to reduce calcium or magnesium.

Although treating hard water with salt and a water softener is common, most people don't know that if you use one of these devices, you are basically removing calcium and magnesium from your drinking water and adding salt to your diet. In addition, water softeners can be expensive to install, and many states actually have banned the use of salt softeners because of their harmful effects on the environment.

Hard water is not hazardous to your health, but it can be a nuisance. If you’re looking for alternative drinking water sources for your home or have questions about your home water as a Colorado resident, contact the Eldorado team. We're always happy to share our insights and help people get the high-quality drinking water they need to stay hydrated!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lead contamination in water is linked to developmental disabilities and other long-term health problems including anemia, neurological problems, kidney failure and even death.

Since 2012, some areas of Denver have experienced increasing levels of lead in drinking water due to outdated lead pipes. This has prompted a series of tests and ultimately a 15-year plan to replace the old lead service lines.

Sources of Lead in Denver Water

While Denver Water supplies lead-free water to most households and businesses, the water can become contaminated through many old systems that the water passes through. These systems can include lead service lines, copper pipes with lead solder and even faucets containing lead.

Lead pipes in Denver affect 64,000 to 84,000 homes. In addition, every time lead is introduced into a pipe in a home, it has the potential to enter a municipal water system connected to the house.

Denver Lead Service Lines

The service lines throughout Denver are the underground pipes that bring the mainline water from the street to the plumbing in a home. For centuries, lead was a convenient material used in water pipes because its malleability makes it easy to bend and mold to shape. In fact, the word plumbing itself comes from plumbum, the Latin word for lead.

With more information available today on the effects of lead exposure, the focus has shifted from material practicality to water quality and health. Today, Denver Water is conducting tests to identify service lines that need to be replaced.

Denver Water Lead Reduction Program

Denver Water will oversee the implementation of the Denver Lead Water Action Plan for the entire city. The plan consists of testing, surveys, pipe replacements and water filter installation. The lead service line replacement is estimated to take 15 years to fully complete.

As residents wait to have a suspected or confirmed lead pipe replaced, Denver Water will provide a free water filter to them. Denver Water is also taking steps to help customers with regular testing of their water by providing free lead test kits to anyone who requests one. The goal of the program is to reduce the likelihood of lead entering drinking water by bypassing lead pipes installed in the 1900s - which includes water pipes owned by customers. 

What’s in Your Water?

 Many of us are unaware of what’s really in our water or where it comes from. Since some Denver residents will be waiting as long as 15 years for lead pipes to be removed, many will turn to the free filters to remove lead in the short term.

Relying on filters to remove unwanted chemicals helps to reduce lead, asbestos,  and chlorine, but may not eliminate them completely. Filters may also be less than fully effective in removing contaminants such as ammonia, pesticides, trihalomethanes, pharmaceuticals and other unwanted chemicals.

Consequently, it's important to look at what a filter doesn't remove rather than being satisfied with what it does remove.  Also, if filters are not changed regularly, bacteria can reach high levels, and this can be a problem of its own.

Don’t Want to Wait 15 Years?

There is another alternative for getting better water in Denver. Right here in Colorado, there is a natural filter from Mother Earth that continually produces pure, perfect spring water. The artesian springs located in Eldorado Springs, Colorado (just outside Boulder, Colorado) emanate from one of the most unique water sources in the world.

Immense, natural artesian spring pressure forces the water through a layer of sandstone up to the surface in Eldorado Springs, creating a natural filtering system. Eldorado spring water is water in its purest form. It’s purity you can trust and taste. As we always say, “You can’t manufacture natural.”

 If you’re a Denver area resident and have thought about looking for a more natural source for your drinking water, now is a good time to consider spring water delivered right to your doorstep. And if you’re not sure how much water you and your family need, try our water calculator.

Don’t wait for lead in Denver drinking water to be resolved. Take charge of your health by ordering Eldorado Natural Spring Water delivered to your home today.