Fountain, CO Water Quality Report

Is Fountain tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Fountain, Colorado. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Fountain tap water safe to drink? Fountain water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 1,300 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Fountain water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Fountain water: PFOS (1,300 ppt), PFHxS (590 ppt), PFBS (150 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Fountain? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Fountain Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Fountain drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 1,300 ppt across 4 water systems, representing an average of 29.34 ppt across 10 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 1,300 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxS: 590 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBS: 150 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOA: 90 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • lithium: 78.6 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)

Lead in Fountain Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 66 lead samples for Fountain water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0081 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Fountain

Fountain public water systems have 3 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Surface Water Treatment Rule, Combined Radium (226+228), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Fountain: approximately 30,240.

ZIP Codes Served

80817

What Fountain Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually