Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Centennial, CO tap water
30 contaminants were measured in the Centennial, CO water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 8 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 30
- Over federal limit
- 8
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Chloramine
- Service area
- CO
- ChloramineDisinfectants · Reported level2023limit 4 · 505.8× the limit
- FluorideInorganic chemicals · Average618 ug/Llimit 4 ug/L · 154.5× the limit
- CopperMetals · 90th percentile60 ug/Llimit 1 ug/L · 60.0× the limit
- BariumMetals · Average41.3 ug/Llimit 2 ug/L · 20.6× the limit
- NitrateInorganic chemicals · Average91 ug/Llimit 10 ug/L · 9.1× the limit
- TOCPhysical & aggregate · Average2.31limit 1 · 2.3× the limit
- LithiumMetals · Average9.23 ug/Llimit 9 ug/L · 1.0× the limit
- PFOAPFAS ("forever chemicals") · Average4.09 ng/Llimit 4 ng/L · 1.0× the limit
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Centennial, CO buys its drinking water from DENVER WATER BOARD.
Source
Treatment
Distribution
Also buys water from DENVER WATER BOARD.
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 2023Reported levelTime Period | 4MRDL | At or above the limit |
+By source (2)— Time Period, Number of Samples Below Level
| |||
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.71–0.2 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Time Period, Number of Samples Below Level
| |||
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 618 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 91 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 60 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1 ug/LAction level | At or above the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 41.3 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 2 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 9.23 ug/LAverageTreatment plant | 9 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 3.9 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 15 ug/LAction level | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 1.3 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 4.33 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 50 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.91 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 100 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.94 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 24000 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.31AverageSystem-wide | 1Treatment technique | At or above the limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.203 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 4.09 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 3.02 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 4.64 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.72 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.56 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.72 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.78 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 38.5 ug/LRunning annual avgLocational RAA | 80 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Chlorite | 0.47 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 21.9 ug/LRunning annual avgLocational RAA | 60 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 1.85 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 3.63 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 5.6 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 50 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 2.39 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 30 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 2Reported levelNumber of Positives | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Centennial, CO's water
+Is Centennial, CO tap water safe to drink in 2023?
The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for the Centennial, CO water utility lists 8 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Chloramine, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Nitrate, TOC, Lithium, and PFOA. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Centennial, CO tap water?
30 contaminants were measured in Centennial, CO's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and radionuclides. 22 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Centennial, CO tap water?
8 contaminants in Centennial, CO's 2023 report sit at or above the federal limit: Chloramine (505.8× the limit); Fluoride (154.5× the limit); Copper (60.0× the limit); Barium (20.6× the limit); Nitrate (9.1× the limit); TOC (2.3× the limit); Lithium (1.0× the limit); PFOA (1.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Centennial, CO tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2023 report is Chloramine, at 505.8× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfectants family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Centennial, CO's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Centennial, CO's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.