# Lakewood, CO — Drinking Water Quality (2024)

> Contaminant levels for the Lakewood, CO public water system from its 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, compared to federal limits.

- Page: https://www.thewatermap.com/water/co/lakewood/2024
- JSON API: https://www.thewatermap.com/api/water/co/lakewood/2024
- Source: the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- Verification: transcribed by a model, cross-checked by a second model, approved before publishing
- Reporting year: 2024
- Contaminants measured: 33
- Contaminants with a federal limit: 20
- Contaminants at or above the federal limit: 7
- Part of The Water Map — https://www.thewatermap.com

## Contaminants measured

| Contaminant | Category | Measured level | Sampling context | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Disinfectants | 0.2 (Reported level) | System-wide | 4 (MRDL) | Within the limit |
| HAA5 | Disinfection byproducts | 22.9 ug/L (Running annual avg) | Locational RAA | 60 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| TTHM | Disinfection byproducts | 37.9 ug/L (Running annual avg) | Locational RAA | 80 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Chloride | Inorganic chemicals | 21400 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 250 ug/L (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| Fluoride | Inorganic chemicals | 675 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 4 ug/L (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| Nitrate | Inorganic chemicals | 119 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 10 ug/L (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| Sulfate | Inorganic chemicals | 49200 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 250 ug/L (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| Aluminum | Metals | 39.5 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 50 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Antimony | Metals | 12 (Reported level) | Volatile Organic Chemicals 2 | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Arsenic | Metals | 0.1 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 10 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Barium | Metals | 39.9 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 2 ug/L (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| Boron | Metals | 12.1 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Calcium | Metals | 25300 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, Total | Metals | 0.8 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 100 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Copper | Metals | 60 ug/L (90th percentile) | At the tap | 1 ug/L (Action level) | At or above the limit |
| Lead | Metals | 3.6 ug/L (90th percentile) | At the tap | 15 ug/L (Action level) | Within the limit |
| Lithium | Metals | 9.23 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 9 ug/L (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| Magnesium | Metals | 6400 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Manganese | Metals | 2.5 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 50 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Mercury | Metals | 124 (Reported level) | Volatile Organic Chemicals 2 | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Nickel | Metals | 1.65 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Potassium | Metals | 1700 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Selenium | Metals | 112 (Reported level) | Volatile Organic Chemicals 2 | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Sodium | Metals | 23350 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Zinc | Metals | 2.5 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 5 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Total Coliform | Microbial | 2024 (Maximum) | Monthly Percentage | 0 (MCLG) | Detected — no federal limit |
| Alkalinity | Physical & aggregate | 62200 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Hardness | Physical & aggregate | 89000 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific Conductance | Physical & aggregate | 296 (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 1.1 pCi/L (Average) | System-wide | 5 pCi/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 3 pCi/L (Average) | System-wide | 15 pCi/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Uranium | Radionuclides | 0.2 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 30 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| DBCP | VOCs & pesticides | 5 (Reported level) | Disinfection Byproducts | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |

## What these contaminants are

- **Chlorine** — A disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. Effective and necessary, but high residual levels can cause taste and odor issues; the EPA caps the residual disinfectant level.
- **HAA5** — Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is associated with an increased cancer risk.
- **TTHM** — Total trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is linked to liver, kidney, and central-nervous-system effects and increased cancer risk.
- **Chloride** — A naturally occurring salt compound. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a salty taste and can corrode pipes.
- **Fluoride** — A mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. Beneficial at low levels, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause bone disease and tooth mottling.
- **Nitrate** — A compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. Levels above the federal limit can cause 'blue baby syndrome,' a serious oxygen-transport condition in infants.
- **Sulfate** — A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. No health-based federal limit; high levels can have a laxative effect and a bitter taste.
- **Aluminum** — A common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels can discolor water.
- **Arsenic** — A naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. A known human carcinogen; long-term exposure is linked to skin, bladder, and lung cancer.
- **Barium** — A metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can raise blood pressure.
- **Boron** — A naturally occurring element from rock and soil. No enforceable federal limit; the EPA has issued a health advisory level.
- **Calcium** — A naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling and taste.
- **Chromium, Total** — Total chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause allergic dermatitis; includes hexavalent chromium.
- **Copper** — A metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. Short-term exposure causes stomach distress; long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.
- **Lead** — A toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. There is no safe level of lead; it harms brain development in children and raises blood pressure in adults. The EPA sets an action level, not a health goal above zero.
- **Lithium** — A naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. No enforceable federal limit; on the EPA contaminant candidate list for further study.
- **Magnesium** — A naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling and taste.
- **Manganese** — A naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. No enforceable federal limit; high levels stain fixtures and laundry and can affect taste, with a health advisory for infants.
- **Mercury** — A toxic metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial runoff. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the kidneys.
- **Nickel** — A metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure can cause skin and other effects; monitored under EPA rules.
- **Potassium** — A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. Not federally regulated for health.
- **Selenium** — A trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Essential in tiny amounts, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause hair and fingernail loss and circulatory problems.
- **Sodium** — A naturally occurring salt component. Not federally regulated for health; relevant for people on sodium-restricted diets.
- **Zinc** — A naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a metallic taste.
- **Total Coliform** — A group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. Coliforms themselves are usually harmless, but their presence signals that disease-causing organisms could enter the system.
- **Alkalinity** — A measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. Not federally regulated for health; relevant to corrosion control and treatment.
- **Hardness** — A measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling, soap use, and taste.
- **Specific Conductance** — A measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. Not federally regulated for health; used as a proxy for total dissolved solids.
- **Combined Radium** — Combined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases the risk of bone cancer.
- **Gross Alpha** — Gross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases cancer risk.
- **Uranium** — A naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the kidneys and increase cancer risk.
- **DBCP** — 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane — a banned soil fumigant pesticide. A probable human carcinogen; long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause reproductive harm.

## How to read this

- A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
- 'Federal limit' is the EPA standard (MCL, action level, treatment technique, etc.) that the measured level is compared against.
- 'At or above the federal limit' means the utility's own reported figure met or exceeded that standard.

_Figures are the utility's own published numbers. Generated 2026-05-25 from thewatermap.com._