Skip to main content

Water Quality#

scientist working in lab

Fort Collins Utilities monitors water quality in three areas:

Learn More About Our Water Quality Lab

Hot Topics#

Black water on the Poudre

Post-Wildfire Water Quality

See how the 2020 wildfires affected our water supply and watershed.

Personal care products

Contaminant Monitoring

We stay on top of the latest research when it comes to emerging contaminants to make sure our water quality remains optimal.

lead gooseneck

Lead & Copper

Managing lead and copper in water is a public health responsibility that is shared among water utilities, consumers, manufacturers, regulators and plumbers.

Poudre River

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

These chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and can accumulate over time. 

Algal Blooms

Algal Blooms

Algal blooms can be caused by a variety of algae and can occur in natural waterbodies under certain environmental conditions.

Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals

Safe disposal practices for unused prescription and over-the-counter medications are important to keep pharmaceuticals out of water bodies.

water pouring into a glass

Fluoride

Currently, Fort Collins Utilities' drinking water fluoride levels are in the range of 0.60-0.75 ppm, with the fluoride system being monitored continuously.

Source Water Monitoring and Watershed Protection#

The watersheds where our water comes from consist of the large areas of land that drain snowmelt and rainfall waters to the Poudre and Big Thompson rivers, Horsetooth Reservoir and other components of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. Watershed monitoring and protection involves minimizing the negative impacts to the quality of these waters from activities on both land and water.

After wastewater is treated at our water reclamation facilities to meet or exceed all state and federal pollution control standards, it is returned to the environment where it is collaboratively monitored to protect the Poudre River downstream.

Learn More

Presedimentation Basin#

Fort Collins Utilities constructed a presedimentation basin to remove sediment in the Poudre River caused by forest fires.

Learn More


Did You Know?

Checking and sealing leaks in attics, basements and crawl spaces can improve your home's performance.

You can save water when washing fruits or vegetables by filling the sink with water instead of running the faucet.

Shrubs and trees require less water than bluegrass, so it's best to water them separately.