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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
Side-by-side comparison of tap water quality
| Metric | Denver | Colorado Springs | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74/100 | 83/100 | Colorado Springs |
| Grade | B- | B+ | - |
| Contaminants Tested | 8 | 9 | - |
| Above EPA Limits | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| EPA Violations (Unresolved) | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| Water Source | surface | groundwater | - |
| Population Served | 717,347 | 474,801 | - |
Side-by-side contaminant levels as percentage of EPA limits
| Contaminant | Denver | Colorado Springs | EPA Limit | Lower Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes | 27.10 ug/L (33.9% of limit) | 4.83 ug/L (6.0% of limit) | 80.00 ug/L | Colorado Springs |
| Nitrite | 0.249 mg/L (24.9% of limit) | 0.124 mg/L (12.5% of limit) | 1.00 mg/L | Colorado Springs |
| Mercury | 0.0004 mg/L (20.7% of limit) | 0.0001 mg/L (5.8% of limit) | 0.0020 mg/L | Colorado Springs |
| Haloacetic Acids | 11.37 ug/L (18.9% of limit) | 5.78 ug/L (9.6% of limit) | 60.00 ug/L | Colorado Springs |
| Fluoride | 0.647 mg/L (16.2% of limit) | 0.512 mg/L (12.8% of limit) | 4.00 mg/L | Colorado Springs |
| Arsenic | 0.0015 mg/L (15.0% of limit) | Not tested | 0.010 mg/L | N/A |
| Nitrate | Not tested | 1.43 mg/L (14.3% of limit) | 10.00 mg/L | N/A |
| Lead | 0.0011 mg/L (7.3% of limit) | 0.0015 mg/L (10.2% of limit) | 0.015 mg/L | Denver |
| Chromium | Not tested | 0.0049 mg/L (4.9% of limit) | 0.100 mg/L | N/A |
| Copper | 0.024 mg/L (1.9% of limit) | 0.033 mg/L (2.5% of limit) | 1.30 mg/L | Denver |
Based on contaminants detected in each city
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Colorado Springs outperforms Denver in overall water quality, scoring 83/100 compared to 74/100. This 9-point difference reflects meaningful distinctions in contaminant levels, EPA compliance history, and water infrastructure quality. The gap is driven by differences in source water protection, treatment technology, distribution system age, and the regulatory track record of each city's water utility. Residents in both cities should understand what these scores mean for their daily water use and health.
Denver draws from surface sources serving approximately 717,347 people, while Colorado Springs relies on groundwater sources serving about 474,801 residents. The type of source water significantly affects the contaminants that must be addressed during treatment. Surface water sources such as rivers and reservoirs are more susceptible to agricultural runoff, microbial contamination, and seasonal turbidity, while groundwater sources may contain naturally occurring minerals like arsenic, radium, or fluoride depending on local geology. Both cities treat their water to meet EPA standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, but the specific treatment processes and their effectiveness vary based on the challenges posed by each source.
Water quality scores are based on EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System) data, which tracks contaminant testing results, compliance violations, and system characteristics for every public water system in the United States. A higher score indicates fewer detected contaminants, better compliance with federal regulations, and stronger infrastructure. However, no water system is perfect, and conditions can change due to aging pipes, seasonal variations, upstream pollution events, or changes in treatment processes. Regardless of your city's score, monitoring your local utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report and considering point-of-use filtration are prudent steps for protecting your household's water quality.
Colorado Springs has better overall water quality with a score of 83/100 (Grade B+). Higher overall quality score (83 vs 74)
Denver's tap water has some concerns with a score of 74/100. Consider using a water filter for additional protection.
Yes, Colorado Springs's tap water generally meets EPA safety standards with a quality score of 83/100 (Grade B+).
Water filters can provide additional protection and improve taste regardless of your city's water quality score. Given the scores in this comparison, we particularly recommend filtration for residents of Denver.