PlainWater
States → Colorado

Community Water System · PWS CO0142200

Cortez City Of

Cortez, Colorado 81321 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 8,770 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

8,770
People served
190
EPA violations
7
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 190 drinking-water violations at Cortez City Of, 4% of them health-based - above the Colorado per-system average.

190
Total EPA violations on record
4%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
8,770
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Cortez City Of

Cortez City Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 8,770 residents in Cortez, Colorado (Montezuma County) through 3,725 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 190 total violations for this system , of which 7 (4%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 177 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2020.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 9 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Colorado, EPA tracks 2,193 public water systems serving 7,473,456 people, with 238,796 cumulative violations and 30,589 health-based violations on record. About 93% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 108.9 violations. Statewide, 98 of 163 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (60.1%).

Cortez City Of's 190 violations sit above the Colorado average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
8,770
Total Violations
190
Health-Based Violations
7
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
3,725
County
Montezuma
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
177
Treatment Tech Violations
7

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 9 2010
Endrin MR 5 2011
Dalapon MR 5 2011
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 5 2011
Simazine MR 5 2011
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 5 2011
Picloram MR 5 2011
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 5 2011
Carbofuran MR 5 2011
Aldicarb MR 5 2011
LASSO MR 5 2011
Heptachlor epoxide MR 5 2011
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 5 2011
Chlordane MR 5 2011
Methoxychlor MR 5 2011
Toxaphene MR 5 2011
Endothall MR 5 2011
OXAMYL MR 5 2011
Dinoseb MR 5 2011
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 5 2011
Heptachlor MR 5 2011
2,4,5-TP MR 5 2011
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 5 2011
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 5 2011
Pentachlorophenol MR 5 2011
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 5 2011
Diquat MR 5 2011
Atrazine MR 5 2011
2,4-D MR 5 2011
BHC-GAMMA MR 5 2011

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 91 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NFDHA 9/6/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/17/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/17/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/17/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/17/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/3/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/3/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/3/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/3/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/23/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 4/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Cortez City Of.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID CO0142200 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Colorado Drinking Water Authority

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Cortez City Of under EPA-delegated authority.

Open CO regulator portal

Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2020 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 0300
2011 Endrin MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2005
2011 Dalapon MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2031
2011 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2035
2011 Simazine MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2037
2011 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2039
2011 Picloram MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2040
2011 Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2043
2011 Carbofuran MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2046
2011 Aldicarb MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2047
2011 LASSO MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2051
2011 Heptachlor epoxide MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2067
2011 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2931
2011 Chlordane MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2959
2011 Methoxychlor MR 5 SDWIS / CO0142200 / 2015

How Cortez City Of Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Cortez City Of Colorado avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 190 108.9 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 7 13.9 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 60.1% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 8,770 3,408 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 2,193 regulated public water systems in Colorado.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cortez City Of water safe to drink? ▼
Cortez City Of (PWS ID: CO0142200) has 190 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 8,770 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Cortez City Of serve? ▼
Cortez City Of serves 8,770 people in Cortez, Colorado. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 3,725 service connections.
What type of violations does Cortez City Of have? ▼
Cortez City Of has 190 total violations: 7 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 177 monitoring/reporting violations, and 7 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Cortez City Of water? ▼
No. Cortez City Of was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Cortez City Of use? ▼
Cortez City Of uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.