Copper in Colorado well water
In Colorado, <1% of 5,187 tested private well samples exceeded the EPA limit for copper (1.3 mg/L).
Copper leaches from pipes when water is acidic. Above 1.3 mg/L it causes stomach upset, and long-term exposure can harm the liver and kidneys. Blue-green stains on fixtures are the giveaway.
Check your copper number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Colorado well for copper
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
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Systems that remove copper
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Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For copper
Under-sink reverse osmosis system
under-sink or countertop, about $300
Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification listing the contaminant you need removed.
For copper
Acid neutralizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,200
Raises pH so plumbing stops leaching lead and copper.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for copper in Colorado: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit (1.3 mg/L); counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moffat | 37 | 81% | 0 | 3.8 mg/L | |
| Summit | 40 | 73% | 0.001 | 2.95 mg/L | |
| Eagle | 840 | 32% | 0 | 14.5 mg/L | |
| La Plata | 103 | 91% | 0.006 | 6.14 mg/L | |
| Boulder | 137 | 84% | 0.001 | 1.4 mg/L | |
| Bent | 101 | 100% | 0 | 0.44 mg/L | |
| Jefferson | 312 | 95% | 0.02 | 0.55 mg/L | |
| Rio Grande | 35 | 94% | 0.001 | 0.008 mg/L | |
| Prowers | 32 | 94% | 0 | 0.05 mg/L | |
| Morgan | 60 | 92% | 0.002 | 0.025 mg/L | |
| Alamosa | 36 | 92% | 0.002 | 0.01 mg/L | |
| Denver | 47 | 91% | 0.003 | 0.739 mg/L | |
| Mesa | 30 | 87% | 0.002 | 0.026 mg/L | |
| Douglas | 43 | 86% | 0.002 | 0.018 mg/L | |
| Saguache | 36 | 78% | 0.001 | 0.28 mg/L |
- Craig CCD, Moffat County6% of 34
- Ignacio CCD, La Plata County1% of 72
- Minturn-Red Cliff CCD, Eagle County1% of 838
- Oak Creek CCD, Routt County0% of 32
- Southeastern El Paso CCD, El Paso County0% of 47
- McClave CCD, Bent County0% of 101
- Central Jefferson CCD, Jefferson County0% of 122
- Fort Morgan CCD, Morgan County0% of 33
- South Jefferson CCD, Jefferson County0% of 154
- Denver CCD, Denver County0% of 47
- East Adams CCD, Adams County0% of 40
- Boulder CCD, Boulder County0% of 51
- Bald Mountain CCD, Boulder County0% of 46
- Fairplay CCD, Park County0% of 72
- Commerce City CCD, Adams County0% of 60
- La Salle-Gilcrest CCD, Weld County0% of 83
- Fountain CCD, El Paso County0% of 203
- Agate CCD, Elbert County0% of 210
- Meeker CCD, Rio Blanco County0% of 117
- East Arapahoe CCD, Arapahoe County0% of 980
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. copper counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.