Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
Colorado Springs Water Utilities
Colorado Springs Water Utilities delivers tap water graded A (86/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 478,000 residents in Colorado Springs, Colorado using surface water from the Arkansas River basin/Pueblo Reservoir. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (303) 557-3812.
Is Colorado Springs tap water safe to drink?
Colorado Springs Water Utilities delivers tap water that earns a grade of A (86/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an excellent rating reflecting minimal contamination and full compliance with health guidelines.
The utility serves 478,000 residents in Colorado Springs, drawing from surface water (Arkansas River basin/Pueblo Reservoir) and disinfecting with chloramine.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate, Nitrate. 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 Colorado Springs residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for Colorado Springs Water Utilities.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic Acids (HAA5) detected at 38.5 ppb, 385x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.55 ppb.
Contact Colorado Springs Water Utilities
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Colorado Springs
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for chromium (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Chromium-6 needs reverse osmosis for reliable reduction. Standard carbon filters do not address it.
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 86/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
38.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 385× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
33.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2022 | 337× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
32.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2024 | 321× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
35.8 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 60× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
29.6 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 49× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
28.8 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2024 | 48× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.55 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2024 | 28× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.434 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 22× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.427 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 21× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.868 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2022 | 6.2× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.7 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2024 | 5.0× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.619 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2023 | 4.4× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
28.8 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 48× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
32.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 321× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.55 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 28× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.7 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 5.0× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
35.8 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 60× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
38.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 385× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.434 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 22× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.619 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 4.4× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
29.6 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 49× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
33.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 337× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.427 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 21× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.868 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 6.2× over |
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, and Colorado Springs Water Utilities's Consumer Confidence Report.
Colorado Springs Water Utilities service area
This water system serves 1 community in El Paso County, Colorado. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Colorado Springs water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.