PFAS in El Paso County Water: Understanding Public System Records and Detection Levels
$2,293.75 $2,899.00
PFAS / Forever-Chemicals Removal System
✓ Free shipping in the USA · ✓ 90-day returns · ✓ Secure checkout
Overview of El Paso County Water Supply
El Paso County, Colorado, receives its municipal water primarily from surface water sources, managed by Colorado Springs Utilities. This public water system serves over 460,000 people through more than 150,000 connections, providing water that undergoes monitoring for various contaminants including PFAS. Water treatment and distribution bring water to household taps but do not guarantee removal of every trace contaminant detected in source water.
Why PFAS Are Measured in Nanograms per Liter and the Importance of Four Decimal Places
PFAS concentrations are expressed in nanograms per liter (ng/L), also called parts per trillion (ppt), reflecting extremely low levels of detection
Measurements to four decimal places denote the precision required to detect minute traces of compounds like PFOA and PFOS
Typical detection limits in this region’s monitoring are in the range of 0.003 to 0.005 µg/L (3 to 5 ng/L), underscoring sophisticated analytical capability
Understanding these small units helps contextualize how detected levels relate to federal standards and health benchmarks
Differences Between UCMR5 and UCMR3 Surveys in Targets and Detection Levels
UCMR5 focuses on a broader array of PFAS compounds compared to UCMR3, enhancing the scope of water quality data
This survey period, running from 2024 through part of 2025, covers compounds with federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) effective in 2024
The reporting levels in UCMR5 are generally lower, improving sensitivity but not indicating safety issues by detection alone
None of the 24 samples between October 2024 and July 2025 detected PFAS compounds above reporting limits or federal MCLs in El Paso County water
Potential Regional Sources of PFAS: Firefighting Foam, Textile Finishing, and Landfills
El Paso County’s record shows no detections of the common PFAS compounds associated with firefighting foam in public water
No information indicates textile finishing plants contributing to PFAS in municipal water
Landfill leachate impacts on PFAS levels have not been detected above reporting levels in this water system
The absence of detectable levels above reporting limits suggests limited influence from these regional sources on public tap water
Identifying How Household or Facility Symptoms Relate to PFAS Presence
Common domestic water issues such as taste, staining, or odors are not reliable indicators of PFAS contamination
PFAS compounds are odorless and tasteless at concentrations typically detected in water supplies
Symptom-based judgments cannot substitute for laboratory testing of water for PFAS presence or concentration
Households concerned about PFAS should consider quantitative testing rather than relying on sensory observations
Public Water Records Versus Private Well Testing: What the Data Establishes
Public water system monitoring data reflect conditions in a large, treated supply, not individual household plumbing or private wells
Private wells in El Paso County may have different PFAS levels not represented by public system monitoring
The system’s 2024-2025 data show no detections above federal MCLs for key PFAS compounds in municipal supply
Individual water tests are required to know a home’s specific PFAS concentration and assess treatment needs
A Homeowner’s Example: Interpreting the Record’s Median and Range
The median PFAS value for this water system is effectively below the reporting level, indicating very low or nondetectable concentrations
The range of 24 samples all fall below both reporting limits and federal MCLs for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and other PFAS measured
This suggests a consistent quality level in public water for these compounds across El Paso County
Even if detection occurs at the reporting threshold, this is not a violation or safety issue but a measurement of presence
Recommended Testing to Confirm Your Household Water Quality
To determine if your household water contains PFAS at levels needing treatment, request a specialized laboratory test specifically for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Such testing identifies individual compound concentrations, providing clarity beyond public system summaries.
Should testing confirm the presence of PFAS at concerning levels, equipment such as the C-Series PFAS Forever Chemicals Filter is designed to reduce these substances effectively. This unit ships ready to configure for residential water treatment, offering an additional layer of protection where needed.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2025-07-21. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025) for COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES (CO0121150), CO: 240 results across 10 listed contaminants, 0 detections above the reporting level; nothing detected above the method reporting level