Health

Drinking Water Sampling

Water Testing Hours and Locations

NOTE: Holidays may affect this schedule. 

*As of November 1, 2023, we no longer collect water samples in the Estes Park office. Samples may be brought to Fort Collins or Loveland on Tuesdays per the posted schedule.

We work to make sure the water you drink is safe and free from harmful chemicals and germs.

If you have questions about adding fluoride to community water, check out the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's (CDPHE) resources here. CDPHE has also shared a statement about community water fluoridation in response to a court decision from September 2024. You can read it here. 

Services Provided:

  • Checking small community water systems and collecting water samples to test for bacteria.
  • Helping homeowners fix and disinfect their water systems if their well water tests show problems.
  • Keeping an eye on water test results for large community water systems.
  • Inspecting small or private water systems to make sure they are clean and safe.
  • Testing drinking water for bacteria.
  • Testing water to check its quality.

2025 Environmental Health Fees (see Water Samples fees)

Consult the tabs below for detailed water sampling information.  

Businesses that provide water to the public

If you own a business and provide water to the public, the water must meet state safety standards to make sure it’s safe to drink. Contact the Environmental Health Division, and we’ll inspect your water system and set up regular testing.

Questions

For questions about abandoned wells, permit info, or well information, refer to the Beginner's Guide to Well Permits from the Colorado Division of Water Resources

Nitrite rarely shows up in groundwater because it usually changes into nitrate in the environment. Nitrate is mainly used in fertilizers to help plants grow, while nitrite is used to cure meats. Labs usually test for nitrate and nitrite together, and the results are labeled as nitrate+nitrite as N.

  • The safe level for nitrite-N in drinking water is 1.0 mg/L.
  • The safe level for nitrate-N is 10 mg/L.
  • Natural nitrate-N levels are usually less than 4 mg/L.
  • If the level is over 4 mg/L, it might mean nitrate is getting into the groundwater from land use or septic systems.
  • Levels over 8 mg/L are close to the health limit and should be watched closely, especially if a baby under 1 year old is drinking the water.
  • Levels over 10 mg/L are unsafe, and you should stop using the water for babies or people with heart problems until you find the source of the contamination.

The biggest risk is for babies under 6 months old. In their bodies, nitrate turns into nitrite, which can block oxygen from being carried in the blood. This can cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia), where the skin turns blue or gray, especially around the mouth. This is an emergency and needs immediate medical care.

Nitrate is naturally found in soil and water in small amounts (less than 4 mg/L). However, contamination can come from septic systems, garbage dumps, fertilizers, manure, and decaying plants. When nitrate gets into groundwater, it’s often a sign that pollution is reaching the water supply.

 

How to Collect a Water Sample:

  1. Get a 250 mL neutral sampling bottle from the Department.
  2. Use a non-swivel faucet and remove the aerator.
  3. Let cold tap water run for 3–5 minutes to flush the pipes.
  4. Take off the bottle cap and fill the bottle to the neck.
  5. Put the cap back on tightly to prevent leaks.
  6. One bottle can be used to test for both nitrate and nitrite from the same location.

Filling Out the Form:

  • Provide your mailing address, email, and phone number.
  • Write down the date and time you collected the sample, the sample site information, and the type of water (e.g., well, surface water). For private wells, write "PRIVATE."
  • Record the water temperature and chlorine levels (if you know them).

Submitting the Sample:

  • Drop off the sample at the Department the same day you collect it. The test must start within 48 hours, so it needs to be submitted on time to stay valid.

Additional Information

Water Tests and Results

Well Operation & Maintenance

Analytica Environmental Labs   
12189 Pennsylvania Street   
Thornton, CO 80241   
(303) 469-8868 / (303) 469-5254 (fax)

Colorado Analytical Laboratory  
240 S. Main Street (PO Box 507)  
Brighton, CO 80601  
(303) 659-2313 / (303) 659-2315 (fax)  
coloradolab.com

Colorado State University  
Environmental Health Services Lab  
150 East Drive, 154 Gen Services Bldg  
Fort Collins, CO 80523-6021  
(970) 491-4837 / (970) 491-4804 (fax)

CH Diagnostic & Consulting Service  
512 Fifth Street  
Berthoud, CO 80513  
(970) 532-2078 / (970) 532-3358 (fax)

City of Longmont  
501 E. First Avenue 
Longmont, CO 80501   
(303) 774-4656 / (303) 682-9543 (fax)   
Notes: In emergency situations only.

Stewart Environmental Consultants   
2600 Canton Court, Unit #C 
Fort Collins, CO 80525  
(970) 226-5500 / (970) 226-4946 (fax)

Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment  
1555 N. 17th Avenue  
Greeley, CO 80631  
(970) 304-6415 / (970) 304-6427 (fax)

Warren Analytical Laboratory   
650 O St.  
Greeley, CO 80631   
(970) 475-0252 / (970) 351-6648 (fax)

eAnalytics Laboratory  
4130 Clydesdale Parkway  
Loveland, CO 80538  
970-667-6975

Lead can sometimes be found in natural water, but it usually gets into drinking water from plumbing materials. Lead can come from old pipes, solder, and fixtures, especially if the water is corrosive. Things like low pH or dissolved oxygen in the water can cause lead to leach into the water.

Older homes often have lead pipes, and lead solder was commonly used to connect copper pipes until it was restricted in the 1980s. Lead in water cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. If you think your water may contain lead, test the first water drawn from the tap after it hasn’t been used for 12 hours.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a safe drinking water limit for lead at 0.015 mg/L. Higher levels of lead can damage the kidneys, raise blood pressure, and harm the brain. Lead is especially dangerous for children, as it can cause delays in physical and mental development.

If you have questions about copper in drinking water, visit www.larimer.gov/copper. 

How to Collect a Water Sample for Metals Testing:

  1. Get a 1-liter sampling bottle from the Department.
  2. Let the water sit in the pipes overnight without using the tap. Collect the sample first thing in the morning, without flushing the pipes.
  3. Remove the faucet aerator.
  4. Take off the bottle cap and fill the bottle to the neck.
  5. Put the cap back on tightly to prevent leaks.

Filling Out the Form:

  • Provide your mailing address, email, and phone number.
  • Write down the date and time you collected the sample, the sample site information, the type of water (e.g., well or surface water), and the water temperature (if known). For private wells, write "PRIVATE."

Submitting the Sample:

  • Submit the sample to the Department for testing.

Water Quality

Environmental Health Services
(970) 498-6775