Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
FT COLLINS CITY OF
FT COLLINS CITY OF delivers tap water graded D (61/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 179,901 residents in FORT COLLINS, Colorado using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 970-217-3514.
Is FORT COLLINS tap water safe to drink?
FT COLLINS CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 179,901 residents in FORT COLLINS, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 10 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Chlorite, Dibromoacetic acid. 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 FORT COLLINS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for FT COLLINS CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 25.6 ppb, 427x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 21.4 ppb, 214x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 25.2 ppb, 168x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact FT COLLINS 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 FORT COLLINS
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.
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 61/100 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 (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
25.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 427× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
21.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 214× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
25.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 168× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.8 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 108× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.71 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 62× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
21.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 53× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 50× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.23 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
265.9 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.3× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.1 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.0935 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0647 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.112 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.03 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
27.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
17.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.25 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.18 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.135 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.26 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0488 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.238 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.601 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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.
FT COLLINS CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Larimer County, Colorado. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for FORT COLLINS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.