Tap Water Lookup

EPA system CO0103005 · Colorado

Aurora City of: Lithium at or above EPA's 10 ppb health reference level

System ID CO0103005; community water system; Colorado; source: surface water; serves 533,407 people via 91,821 connections; status: active

In focus533,407people served, EPA registry
Public records. Clearer context.
Highest result against its EPA referenceLithium
Lithium: 21.4 ppb; health reference level 10 ppb. highest single sample.21.4 ppbhealth reference level: 10 ppb

highest single sample; sampled January 2023–August 2024. Source: EPA UCMR 5 final release, August 2026.

Aurora City of is a local-government-owned community water system in Colorado serving about 533,407 people, matched to 14 ZIP codes.

< 4.0 ppt
PFOA, highest complete-set average
12 samples, none above the reporting level
MCL 4.0 ppt · not detected above the reporting level
< 4.0 ppt
PFOS, highest complete-set average
12 samples, none above the reporting level
MCL 4.0 ppt · not detected above the reporting level
21.4 ppb
Lithium, highest single sample
5 of 12 samples above the reporting level
health reference level 10 ppb · at or above the health reference level
4 / 29
PFAS found above the reporting level
360 results, 3 entry points
0 at or above an MCL on the average basis
2.5 ppb
Lead 90th percentile
period ending Dec 31, 2025
action level 15 ppb · below the action level
0
health-based violations since Sep 3, 2016
0 violations in total

PFAS treatment declared to EPA: None declared (12 of 12 sampling events) · PFAS found before UCMR 5: Yes, at 12 of 12 sampling events

What EPA says about what was found

  • Lithium EPA's health reference level is derived from a 2008 provisional toxicity value based on effects seen at therapeutic lithium doses; EPA notes the assessment is provisional. EPA source
  • PFHxA EPA's 2023 IRIS assessment for PFHxA cites developmental, liver and blood effects in animal studies. EPA source
  • PFBS EPA's 2021 PFBS toxicity assessment cites thyroid, kidney and developmental effects in animal studies. EPA source
  • PFBA EPA's 2022 IRIS assessment for PFBA cites thyroid, liver and developmental effects in animal studies. EPA source

Quoted from EPA assessments. This site adds no health claims of its own.

PFAS and lithium: what EPA's national survey found

EPA tested this water for 30 substances and found 5. Lithium reached 21.4 ppb; EPA's health reference level, which is guidance and not a limit, is 10 ppb.

Between January 2023 and August 2024, EPA's UCMR 5 program tested 360 samples from 3 sampling locations for 30 contaminants (29 PFAS plus lithium). 5 were detected above the reporting level in at least one sample. Lithium reached 21.4 ppb in a single sample, at or above the health reference level of 10 ppb, which is non-regulatory.

Result EPA comparesNot detected, shown at the reporting levelEPA reference value, at the middle of each row's scale
ContaminantResult against the EPA referenceResultStatus
PFPeAhighest single sample
7.2 ppt
detected; no EPA reference value
Lithiumhighest single sample
21.4 ppb
at or above the health reference level
PFHxAhighest single sample
5.6 ppt
below the screening level
PFBShighest single sample
3.3 ppt
below the health-based water concentration
PFBAhighest single sample
7.8 ppt
below the screening level
Show the 25 contaminants not detected above the reporting level
11Cl-PF3OUdSnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
4:2 FTSnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
6:2 FTSnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
8:2 FTSnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
9Cl-PF3ONSnot detected · reporting level 2.0 ppt
< 2.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
ADONAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
HFPO-DA (GenX)not detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
NEtFOSAAnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
NFDHAnot detected · reporting level 20.0 ppt
< 20.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
NMeFOSAAnot detected · reporting level 6.0 ppt
< 6.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFDAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFDoAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFEESAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFHpAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFHpSnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFHxSnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFMBAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFMPAnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFNAnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFOAnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFOSnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFPeSnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFTAnot detected · reporting level 8.0 ppt
< 8.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFTrDAnot detected · reporting level 7.0 ppt
< 7.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFUnAnot detected · reporting level 2.0 ppt
< 2.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
Full table: samples, detections, highest single sample, complete-set average and sampling dates for all 30 contaminants
ContaminantSamplesDetectionsHighest single sampleComplete-set average (results used)EPA referenceStatusSampled
PFPeA1217.2 ppt1.8 ppt (4 of 4)none setdetected; no EPA reference valueJanuary 2023 – August 2024
Lithium12521.4 ppb17.1 ppb (4 of 4)10 ppb health reference level · compared on the highest sampleat or above the health reference levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFHxA1215.6 ppt1.4 ppt (4 of 4)3,000 ppt screening level · compared on the highest samplebelow the screening levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFBS1213.3 ppt0.8 ppt (4 of 4)2,000 ppt health-based water concentration · compared on the highest samplebelow the health-based water concentrationJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFBA1217.8 ppt2.0 ppt (4 of 4)6,000 ppt screening level · compared on the highest samplebelow the screening levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
11Cl-PF3OUdS120< 5.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
4:2 FTS120< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
6:2 FTS120< 5.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
8:2 FTS120< 5.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
9Cl-PF3ONS120< 2.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
ADONA120< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
HFPO-DA (GenX)120< 5.0 ppt10.0 ppt MCL (rescission proposed) · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
NEtFOSAA120< 5.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
NFDHA120< 20.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
NMeFOSAA120< 6.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFDA120< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFDoA120< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFEESA120< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFHpA120< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFHpS120< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFHxS120< 3.0 ppt10.0 ppt MCL (rescission proposed) · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFMBA120< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFMPA120< 4.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFNA120< 4.0 ppt10.0 ppt MCL (rescission proposed) · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFOA120< 4.0 ppt4.0 ppt MCL · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFOS120< 4.0 ppt4.0 ppt MCL · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFPeS120< 4.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFTA120< 8.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFTrDA120< 7.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
PFUnA120< 2.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2023 – August 2024
UCMR 5 is a one-time national monitoring survey. Its results do not indicate compliance or non-compliance with the PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels, which are enforced on running annual averages and take effect in 2029 (EPA has proposed allowing extensions to 2031). A single result above a limit on this page is a measurement, not a violation.

Sampling-point average: mean of a location's two (ground water) or four (surface water) UCMR 5 results with non-detects counted as zero, EPA's method for comparing UCMR 5 data to the PFAS MCLs. EPA rounds to the reference value's significant digits before deciding whether an average is "greater than" an MCL (PFOA/PFOS averages count as above 4.0 ng/L only from 4.05 ng/L; lithium results count as above the 10 ppb reference only from 15 ppb). This site does not apply that rounding: "at or above" here means the measured value is numerically at or above the reference.

Every detection by sampling location (9 results)
DateSampling locationSource waterContaminantResultReporting level
Jan 24, 2023ENTRY POINT Bwpp Clearwell for 016 and 055surface waterLithium9.9 ppb9 ppb
Apr 3, 2023ENTRY POINT Wemlinger WTPsurface waterLithium9.9 ppb9 ppb
Apr 3, 2023ENTRY POINT Bwpp Clearwell for 016 and 055surface waterLithium21.4 ppb9 ppb
Apr 11, 2023ENTRY POINT Bwpp Clearwell for 016 and 055surface waterPFBA7.8 ppt5.0 ppt
Apr 11, 2023ENTRY POINT Bwpp Clearwell for 016 and 055surface waterPFBS3.3 ppt3.0 ppt
Apr 11, 2023ENTRY POINT Bwpp Clearwell for 016 and 055surface waterPFHxA5.6 ppt3.0 ppt
Apr 11, 2023ENTRY POINT Bwpp Clearwell for 016 and 055surface waterPFPeA7.2 ppt3.0 ppt
Jul 10, 2023ENTRY POINT Bwpp Clearwell for 016 and 055surface waterLithium16.9 ppb9 ppb
Oct 2, 2023ENTRY POINT Bwpp Clearwell for 016 and 055surface waterLithium20 ppb9 ppb

Utility-reported context (UCMR 5 questionnaire, aggregated across sampling events): PFAS previously found at this system: yes at 12 of 12 sampling events; potential PFAS sources nearby: no at 10 of 12 sampling events, yes at 2 of 12 sampling events; PFAS treatment in place: no PFAS treatment at 12 of 12 sampling events.

Lead at customer taps

In the latest completed monitoring period, ending Dec 31, 2025, 9 in 10 sampled homes had lead at or below 2.5 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that triggers utility action. None of the 18 periods on record reached it.

Action level 15 ppb015Jan 1, 1999 – Dec 31, 1999: 7 ppbJan 1, 2002 – Dec 31, 2004: 7 ppbJan 1, 2005 – Dec 31, 2007: 5 ppbJan 1, 2008 – Dec 31, 2010: 3 ppbJan 1, 2011 – Dec 31, 2013: 2 ppbJan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2016: 3.4 ppbJan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017: 2.3 ppbJan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018: 2.7 ppbJan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019: 3.1 ppbJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020: 2.5 ppbJan 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021: 1.3 ppbJan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2025: 2.5 ppbDec 31, 1999Dec 31, 20252.5 ppb

In the most recent completed lead monitoring period, ending Dec 31, 2025, the 90th-percentile lead result at customer taps was 2.5 ppb, below the action level of 15 ppb (18 monitoring periods on record, none at the action level). The 90th percentile is the value that 9 in 10 sampled homes were at or below. Values are in parts per billion (ppb).

Monitoring periodMetal90th percentileAction levelStatus
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2025Lead2.5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021Lead1.3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Lead2.5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019Lead3.1 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018Lead2.7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017Lead2.3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2016Lead3.4 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2011 – Dec 31, 2013Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2008 – Dec 31, 2010Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2005 – Dec 31, 2007Lead5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2002 – Dec 31, 2004Lead7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1999 – Dec 31, 1999Lead7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Show all 18 monitoring periods on record
Monitoring periodMetal90th percentileAction levelStatus
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2025Lead2.5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021Lead1.3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Lead2.5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019Lead3.1 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018Lead2.7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017Lead2.3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2016Lead3.4 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2011 – Dec 31, 2013Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2008 – Dec 31, 2010Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2005 – Dec 31, 2007Lead5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2002 – Dec 31, 2004Lead7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1999 – Dec 31, 1999Lead7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 1997 – Dec 31, 1997Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1997 – Jun 30, 1997Lead5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1995 – Dec 31, 1995Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1994 – Dec 31, 1994Lead10 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1993 – Dec 31, 1993Lead5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 1992 – Dec 31, 1992Lead6 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level

Drinking water violations since Sep 3, 2016

EPA lists no drinking-water violations for this utility since Sep 3, 2016.

EPA's SDWIS database lists no drinking water violations for this utility since Sep 3, 2016.

None on file.

Sanitary surveys and site visits

Most recent state inspection: Sep 25, 2024 (sanitary survey); 2 visits since Sep 3, 2021.

What you can do about these results

Filters certified to reduce PFOA and PFOS

EPA testing found 4 PFAS above reporting levels in this utility's water.

Look for NSF/ANSI 53 (activated carbon) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) certification that names PFOA/PFOS reduction.

Lithium: what reduces it

Lithium reached 21.4 ppb in a single sample, at or above EPA's non-regulatory 10 ppb health reference level.

No NSF/ANSI certification claim exists for lithium. Reverse osmosis systems reduce dissolved minerals generally; we do not recommend a specific product for lithium.

ZIP codes served

Sources

Data vintage: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, samples collected 2023-01-03 – 2026-06-17, final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026); EPA SDWIS via ECHO, 2026Q2 extract (file dated Jul 9, 2026); EPA service-area boundaries v3.0; Census 2020 ZCTAs. Page generated 2026-09-03.

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