Yes, our water more than meets all regulatory mandates and has never violated any standard. Drinking water is regulated through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Water can pick up tastes and odors from new pipes, low usage in the treated water system or natural elements in the source water. Taste and odor events can occur seasonally during blooms of algae or aquatic plants. Although the plant material is removed during treatment, sometimes the odors persist. Tastes and odors in treated water are not harmful, but we do take steps to try and eliminate them.

The discoloration is usually caused by rust from aging pipes. It is not harmful but aesthetically displeasing. Discoloration of the water can also result from disturbances in the water line due to using a hydrant improperly, installing new pipe or shutting off the water to a local area for system maintenance. Home plumbing can also cause discoloration of the water.

Tap water is safe to drink without a water filter. However, if you have an internal plumbing problem, a lead service line in your home, or plumbing that contains lead, you may want to consider a filter or treatment system.

Many bottled water companies use tap water as their source. Bottled water may not be as safe as tap water because it is not as heavily regulated or tested. Instead, bottled water is regulated through the Food and Drug Administration and is considered a food product. Additionally, water utilities are required to release information on their water’s quality, and bottled water companies are not.

Please read the advisory in the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report on this website for more information on lead in the drinking water. If you have questions, please get in touch with our office at (970) 532-2096.

No, you do not need to be concerned about radon in your water. LTWD water comes from surface water such as lakes and streams, and radon is not found in surface water.

Most customers who call about hardness inquire about detergent usage amounts or about adding tap water to their irons or humidifiers. The units of measurement for most appliances are in grains per gallon, but we measure in milligrams per liter. The average total hardness of LTWD’s finished water is approximately 32.00 mg/L, which is considered soft.

Carter Lake Filter Plant adds the following chemicals to the water as a necessary part of the water treatment process:

• Coagulants and polymers, which cause particles in the water to stick together for removal by filtration.
• Chlorine dioxide to control algae and taste and odor problems commonly found in raw water.
•  Soda ash and/or sodium hydroxide to maintain pH levels.
• Fluoride is found naturally in our water and is added as needed to meet the recommended guidelines set by the state health department.
• Poly-orthophosphates for corrosion control.
• Chlorine to protect against viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms that might remain after the filtration process.

All chemicals we use in our processes are certified as food-grade or meet ANSI/NSF 60 Standards for Drinking Water Additives, and they also meet AWWA standards.

Learn more about the water treatment process

All natural waters contain minerals and some chemicals absorbed as it flows over rocks and soils. The EPA has identified more than 80 potential contaminants that when present at levels above established limits (Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL) may be a health threat. Please view the latest Annual Drinking Water Quality Report on this website for more information

Since the treated water system is enclosed, it is highly unlikely that toxic spills in the ground or groundwater could contaminate the drinking water. For more information on protecting our source water, visit the Big Thompson Watershed Forum.

Drinking or using hot water from the tap for consumption or food or beverage preparation is not advisable. Hot water systems (tanks, boilers) contain metallic parts that corrode over time and contaminate the hot water.