Water Quality FAQs

The CCR is an annual water quality report that all community water systems are required to provide. It is based on the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act and the right-to-know provisions of that Act. Each customer of the Perry Park Water and Sanitation District (PPWSD) has the opportunity to review it annually. The CCR helps them to make informed choices about the water they drink. The report lets the customers of PPWSD know what contaminants, if any, are in their drinking water, and how these contaminants may affect their health. Be assured that the water PPWSD provides the community continues to meet and/or exceed all water quality standards.

The reason for the report containing results from the previous year is based on the sampling requirements from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some of those sampling requirements occur each month and others occur at different times of the year based on water usage and when a contaminate may be more likely to be found in the water. So in order to provide a complete CCR report for the entire year, along with providing sufficient time for the public water systems to prepare the report, the CDPHE allows six months for the water provider to prepare and distribute the report to its customers.

Every community water system is required by Federal law to provide its customers with a water quality report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) by July 1st of each year. This report lists the regulated contaminants, if any, for that year’s sampling requirements. The results, along with the Safe Drinking Water Maximum allowable level, are always on the CCR report that you receive. All of the water quality tests during that year’s sample period will be reported on the CCR, which include results from the previous year. Thus, the current CCR will be dated from the previous year.

Yes, you can be assured that PPWSD continues to meet and/or exceed all State and Federal water quality standards as set forth by the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act and any other subsequent revisions. See for yourself by reviewing the current CCRs.

Yes, we test the water at 20 volunteer homes at the faucet every three years. Our lab tests continue to show we are well below EPA’s action levels in contaminants of lead and copper in the water.

Lead is a common, naturally occurring metal found throughout the environment. It seldom, however, occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes, and is rarely present in water coming from a treatment plant or the water pipes themselves. That would be the case in Perry Park as the mainlines (pipelines) are not made of lead and the water treatment process does not introduce any lead.

Lead can enter drinking water primarily as a result of corrosion or wearing away of materials in a household’s plumbing that contains lead piping or soldering.

If you’re concerned about lead pipelines in your home’s plumbing, you may want to have your water tested. If you choose to have your tap water tested, be sure to use a state certified laboratory. Also you might want to consider replacing any lead pipelines. Talk with your plumber or contact us for more information.

If discoloration occurs, try running only the COLD water at one faucet for about 5 minutes and you should see that the water becomes clear. (Note that because running the hot water rather than cold water pulls from the hot water heater, the water may not run clear.) If the water doesn’t clear up after 5 minutes, wait for a few hours and try running the cold water only again. If the water is still discolored, please contact us, so we can correct the problem.

This discoloration consists of naturally occurring harmless minerals (primarily iron and manganese). What happens is these minerals settle in the water pipelines, especially during winter months, when water usage is low. This increase in flow and pressure will stir up these minerals and it can take several hours for the water to clear. There are other times throughout the year that you may experience discolored water, such as in the spring when irrigation systems are being turned on at homes.

Yes, even though there are minerals in it, the water remains safe to drink. It’s important to know that the water quality in Perry Park continues to meet and often be of better quality than the State Department of Public Health and Environment’s, (regulators of public drinking water), strict drinking water standards demand.

It is recommended that you do NOT wash clothes when there is any discoloration in the water to avoid the possibility that it could stain any clothing – especially whites.