Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Aurora?
Yes, tap water in Aurora is safe to drink. Aurora Water combines mountain snowmelt from three river basins with the advanced Prairie Waters purification system, and the supply meets all EPA standards.
Water Source
Aurora Water draws snowmelt from the Colorado, Arkansas and South Platte River basins and operates the Prairie Waters Project — a nationally cited system that recaptures South Platte water downstream, filters it through riverbank wells and natural purification basins, and polishes it at the Binney Water Purification Facility with advanced oxidation and carbon treatment.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. The Binney facility's multi-barrier treatment (softening, UV advanced oxidation, activated carbon) exceeds conventional treatment for the recaptured share of supply.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •No significant compliance concerns; the Prairie Waters share receives some of the most advanced municipal treatment in the country
- •PFAS is monitored under the EPA rule; advanced treatment barriers at Binney help address trace organics generally
- •Mountain snowmelt sources are naturally low in contaminants
Water Quality Data
Key contaminants detected vs. regulatory limits. All values from the most recent published report — Source: Aurora Water 2024 CCR.
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (total) | 1.3 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Fluoride | 0.71 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 2.4 µg/L | 15.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Nitrate (as N) | 0.95 mg/L | 10.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) | 27.3 µg/L | 80.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) | 18.6 µg/L | 60.0 µg/L | ✓ |
✓ = below limit ⚠ = above health goal ✗ = exceeds guideline
How It Compares
Aurora's Prairie Waters Project made it an early national model for potable reuse — a drought-resilience strategy cities like El Paso and San Diego have also pursued — layered on top of conventional Colorado snowmelt supply.
Tips
- •Aurora Water publishes an annual quality report covering all sources
- •No filter is needed for safety
- •Taste can vary slightly with the seasonal source blend
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulations
- •EWG Tap Water Database
- •The utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality