Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
BRIGHTON CITY OF
BRIGHTON CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 56,304 residents in BRIGHTON, Colorado using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 720-641-3085.
Is BRIGHTON tap water safe to drink?
BRIGHTON CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 56,304 residents in BRIGHTON, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 20 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Arsenic, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA), Chlorate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for BRIGHTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for BRIGHTON CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 4.22 ppt, 4217x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 35.0 ppb, 583x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 54.0 ppb, 360x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.0 ppb.
Contact BRIGHTON CITY OF
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for BRIGHTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 48/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
6.39 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
10.6 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
4.22 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4217× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
35.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 583× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
54.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 360× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
17.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 283× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.0 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 250× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.77 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 192× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
18.8 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 188× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
15.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 154× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.879 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 147× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.295 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.84 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.97 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 28× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
10.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.25 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
7.97 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.257 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) PFAS |
0.018 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
287.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0989 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) PFAS |
0.26 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
3.33 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.5 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.34 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.65 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
29.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
11.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.242 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
6.22 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
4.76 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
8.47 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.186 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
3.23 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Xylenes (total) Volatile organic compound |
0.993 ppb | 1800.0 | 10000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.5 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.79 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
1.67 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.693 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
22.4 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
BRIGHTON CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Adams County, Colorado. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BRIGHTON water
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