PFAS in Colorado Water

What Are PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured and used globally since the late 1940s. They are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because of the exceptionally strong carbon-fluorine bond at their molecular core. This bond makes PFAS remarkably resistant to heat, water, oil, and biological degradation. In practical terms, once PFAS enter the environment, they do not break down through natural processes on any meaningful human timescale.

PFAS have been used in an extraordinarily wide range of products and applications. Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), used extensively for firefighting at military installations and civilian airports, is one of the most significant sources of environmental contamination. Nonstick cookware coatings, stain-resistant fabric treatments, grease-resistant food packaging, waterproof clothing, and certain industrial processes all rely on PFAS chemistry. The same properties that make these chemicals useful in consumer products — their stability and resistance to degradation — are what make them persistent in soil, groundwater, and drinking water supplies.

PFAS in Colorado Specifically

Colorado has emerged as one of the states most affected by PFAS contamination, largely due to the historical use of AFFF firefighting foam at military installations. Peterson Space Force Base (formerly Peterson Air Force Base) in Colorado Springs and Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora are among the most well-documented PFAS contamination sites in the state. Decades of firefighting training exercises at these facilities released PFAS-laden foam into the surrounding soil and groundwater, creating contamination plumes that have migrated into nearby community water supplies.

Beyond military installations, PFAS have been detected in municipal water systems across the Denver metropolitan area and along the Front Range. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has conducted sampling and monitoring efforts that have identified PFAS detections in multiple public water systems throughout the state. These findings have prompted both state-level regulatory action and increased public awareness.

How PFAS Enter Your Water Supply

PFAS contamination in drinking water typically begins with a source of release into the environment. When AFFF firefighting foam is used during training exercises or emergency responses, the PFAS compounds in the foam soak into the ground. Over time, these chemicals migrate downward through soil layers and into underground aquifers. Because PFAS are water-soluble and chemically stable, they can travel significant distances through groundwater systems, eventually reaching wells and municipal water intake points.

Industrial facilities that manufacture or use PFAS can also discharge these chemicals into waterways through wastewater streams. Landfills that accept consumer products containing PFAS generate leachate that can carry these compounds into surrounding groundwater. Wastewater treatment plants, which are not typically designed to remove PFAS, may pass these substances through into their effluent and biosolids.

Municipal water treatment systems face a particular challenge with PFAS. Conventional treatment processes such as coagulation, sedimentation, and standard disinfection do not effectively remove PFAS from water. Only advanced treatment technologies — specifically granular activated carbon, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membrane systems such as reverse osmosis and nanofiltration — have demonstrated consistent effectiveness at reducing PFAS concentrations. For households on private wells, there is no treatment step between the aquifer and the tap, making well water in contaminated areas a particular concern.

Health Concerns Associated with PFAS

Federal agencies including the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through its Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have conducted extensive reviews of the scientific literature on PFAS exposure. The EPA's 2024 health advisories reflect the agency's assessment that exposure to certain PFAS at very low concentrations over extended periods may be associated with adverse health outcomes.

Research has examined potential associations between PFAS exposure and a range of health endpoints, including effects on cholesterol levels, immune system function, thyroid hormone regulation, and developmental outcomes in children. The scientific understanding of PFAS health effects continues to evolve as more studies are completed and longer-term data become available.

Colorado PFAS Regulations

Colorado has been among the more proactive states in addressing PFAS in drinking water. In 2024, the state adopted enforceable drinking water standards for several PFAS compounds, establishing maximum contaminant levels that water utilities must meet. These state standards were developed through the CDPHE rulemaking process and reflect both the emerging federal framework and Colorado's specific contamination landscape.

At the federal level, the EPA finalized national drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds in 2024, setting individual maximum contaminant levels of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS, with additional limits for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX chemicals), and a hazard index approach for PFAS mixtures. Colorado's state-level regulations complement these federal requirements, and in some respects preceded them.

Under these regulations, public water utilities are required to monitor for PFAS, report their findings, and implement treatment solutions where contamination exceeds established limits. The compliance timeline gives utilities several years to install necessary treatment infrastructure, meaning that some communities may still be in the process of addressing elevated PFAS levels in their systems. Residents can request current PFAS monitoring data from their local water provider.

Testing for PFAS in Your Water

PFAS testing requires specialized laboratory analysis because these compounds are measured at extremely low concentrations — parts per trillion. Standard home water test kits and basic water quality panels do not test for PFAS. To obtain PFAS-specific results, water samples must be analyzed using EPA-approved methods such as EPA Method 533 or EPA Method 537.1, which are capable of detecting individual PFAS compounds at the low concentrations established in regulatory standards.

When reviewing PFAS test results, the key numbers to look for are the concentrations of individual PFAS compounds (reported in parts per trillion) compared against the applicable federal and state standards. Results should identify specific compounds — PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and others — rather than simply reporting a total PFAS number, although total PFAS measurements provide useful context as well.

What Homeowners Can Do

For households concerned about PFAS in their water, point-of-use filtration is currently the most practical and effective approach. Not all water filters are designed to remove PFAS, so selecting the right technology matters. Look for systems that carry NSF/ANSI certification for PFAS reduction, which verifies that the filter has been independently tested and validated for this specific purpose.

Effective Filtration Technologies

• Reverse Osmosis (RO) — Highly effective at removing PFAS. RO systems use a semipermeable membrane that blocks contaminants at the molecular level. Point-of-use RO systems installed under the kitchen sink are the most common residential configuration.
• Activated Carbon Filters — Granular activated carbon (GAC) and carbon block filters can reduce PFAS concentrations, though effectiveness varies by filter design and the specific PFAS compounds present. Look for filters with NSF P473 certification for PFAS reduction.
• Ion Exchange Systems — Anion exchange resins are effective at capturing PFAS compounds from water. These systems are more commonly used in whole-house configurations or in municipal treatment settings.

What Does Not Work

It is important to understand that boiling water does not remove PFAS. In fact, boiling can concentrate PFAS by evaporating water while leaving the chemicals behind. Standard pitcher-style filters that use basic activated carbon may reduce some PFAS but are generally not certified for meaningful PFAS reduction. Bottled water is an option for drinking, but it is not a practical long-term solution for all household water uses, and not all bottled water is tested or certified as PFAS-free.

Colorado Communities Most Affected

PFAS contamination in Colorado is not evenly distributed. Certain communities have experienced more significant contamination due to their proximity to military installations, industrial sites, or other sources of PFAS release. The following areas have been identified through state and federal monitoring as having notable PFAS detections in their water supplies:

• Colorado Springs — Proximity to Peterson Space Force Base and associated firefighting training areas has resulted in documented groundwater contamination affecting local water sources.
• Security and Widefield — Communities south of Colorado Springs that have experienced some of the most significant PFAS contamination in the state, directly linked to AFFF use at nearby military facilities.
• Fountain — Located in the contamination zone associated with Peterson Space Force Base, Fountain has been the subject of ongoing monitoring and remediation efforts.
• Aurora — Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora has been identified as a source of PFAS contamination, with detections in surrounding groundwater and municipal monitoring.
• Commerce City — Industrial activity and proximity to various potential PFAS sources have placed Commerce City among the communities with documented PFAS detections.
• Denver Metro Area — Multiple water systems across the broader Denver metropolitan area have reported PFAS detections at varying concentrations, reflecting the widespread nature of these compounds in Colorado's water infrastructure.