Is Boulder tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Boulder's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

85/100
Purity Score
1
Issues Found
1.8 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

1 Issue Detected in Boulder

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.1 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Boulder
Colorado

803,018,030,280,303 · Boulder Creek and Barker Reservoir

Boulder Water Quality Report (2026)

Low Risk Updated March 2026 105,673 residents
See Best Filters for Boulder
85
Purity Score

This report analyzes Boulder's tap water across five key indicators: PFAS, lead, hardness, chlorine, and TDS. Each section links to deeper data and filter options suited to CO water conditions.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
1.2 ppb
Nitrate
0.3 mg/L
Arsenic
0.1 mg/L
Hardness
1.8 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Boulder's water meets current EPA standards. Filtration can improve taste and provide extra safety.

Score

85 /100
Excellent
"Good" threshold (70)

Boulder tap water is sourced from Boulder Creek and Barker Reservoir and treated by City of Boulder Utilities. Overall purity score: 85/100 (Excellent). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Boulder's 1 issue.

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Explore Boulder Water Data

Forever Chemicals in BoulderPFAS water report
Lead Risk in BoulderLead water report
Boulder Hardness ReportScale and minerals
Best FiltersFull comparison
ColoradoState rankings

Boulder Water FAQ

Is Boulder CO tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Boulder tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 85/100 (Excellent) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Boulder CO use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Boulder uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 0.8 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Boulder CO water and what is the TDS level?
Boulder water hardness is 1.8 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 48 ppm (excellent). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Boulder CO drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Boulder drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Boulder?
Based on Boulder's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Boulder water scores well overall. A pitcher filter provides extra precaution and improves taste for drinking and cooking.

Nearby Reports

Colorado SpringsColorado — 70/100PuebloColorado — 82/100GreeleyColorado — 85/100DenverColorado — 85/100AuroraColorado — 85/100Fort CollinsColorado — 85/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • City of Boulder Utilities CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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