Safe
Colorado, United States
·
Last reviewed:
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Denver?
Yes, tap water in Denver is safe to drink and is sourced from high-quality mountain reservoirs fed by Rocky Mountain snowmelt, treated by Denver Water to meet all EPA standards.
Hardness
Soft to moderate
pH
7.5–8.2
TDS
ranges 100–180 ppm
EPA Status
Compliant
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very Hard
Water Source
Denver Water draws from a network of mountain reservoirs (including Dillon and Cheesman) fed by the South Platte and Colorado River headwaters, treating the water at several plants before distribution.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •Wildfires in source watersheds (notably after the Buffalo Creek and Hayman fires) have historically caused sediment and ash runoff events requiring treatment adaptation; Denver Water has invested heavily in post-fire watershed restoration since
- •No significant ongoing compliance concerns in current treated supply
How It Compares
Denver Water is widely cited in the utility industry for its post-wildfire watershed restoration program, developed after major fires demonstrated how upstream forest health affects downstream water treatment.
Tips
- •Denver Water publishes an annual water quality report with source-specific detail
- •Mountain snowmelt sourcing generally means excellent baseline quality
- •No need for bottled water around the city
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