Pueblo, CO Water Quality Report
Is Pueblo tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Pueblo, Colorado. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Pueblo tap water safe to drink? Pueblo tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 15.8 ppt across 1 compound. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Pueblo water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Pueblo water: lithium (25 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Pueblo? 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.
Pueblo Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Pueblo drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 25 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 15.8 ppt across 1 detected compound.
Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 25 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Pueblo Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 30 lead samples for Pueblo water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.011 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 Pueblo
Pueblo public water systems have 11 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Combined Radium (226+228), Arsenic, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Chromium. 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 Pueblo: approximately 111,127.
ZIP Codes Served
What Pueblo Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually