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Drinking Colorado Springs’ tap water is the responsible way to hydrate

Written by Jennifer J. | Jul 9, 2024 1:21:00 PM

It’s important to stay hydrated in our climate and more importantly, to hydrate responsibly. That means filling reusable containers with clean, great-tasting, local tap water to have on hand when you’re spending time outdoors. 

Colorado Springs is fortunate to have one of the finest sources of drinking water in the nation: the Rocky Mountains.  Most of our city’s water comes directly from high country snowmelt, which means it’s tastes great - a taste test even proved it! It’s also monitored at higher standards than bottled water from the store, is much less costly and doesn’t come in plastic containers that will get thrown in a landfill. 

We conduct thousands of tests each year on the water we deliver to our customers to make sure it meets strict drinking water standards. Then we provide the results of those tests in an easy-to-read annual water quality report so you can learn what is – and isn’t - in your water. We want you to have confidence in the safety and quality of the water you rely on for your everyday life.

Did you know we also provide an interactive fluoride map that allows you to see how much fluoride is in the water at your address? We don’t add fluoride to our water, but it does occur naturally and abundantly in our Pikes Peak water sources. We blend these local supplies with the water we import from the Continental Divide to reduce concentrations to recommended levels.

So, you have access to clean, great-tasting water, but how is drinking tap water a responsible way to hydrate? Rather than tossing scores of plastic bottles into landfills, you'll be helping the environment by filling reusable bottles and cups from your faucet instead. Plus, at about a penny per gallon, a considerable amount of money is saved by drinking water from the tap, instead of purchasing water that’s bottled elsewhere.

Here’s a summer tip: fill a pitcher from your water tap and add different combinations of sliced fruits, veggies and herbs (like limes + cucumbers, or mint + honeydew melon). Chill, then fill your water bottle with flavor-infused, refreshing tap water before heading outside to garden or hike. 

Did you know?

  • We’re the first users of fresh, Rocky Mountain water. It’s then reused by 200+ cities before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Our transmountain water is delivered to our terminal storage reservoirs through four transmission pipelines totaling more 250 miles of pipe.
  • We deliver an average of 68 million gallons of water a day to more than 500,000 customers.
  • We deliver that water through nearly 2,500 miles of potable distribution system mains in our service territory.
  • Our peak demand record is 182 million gallons per day in 2001. Our current daily use is far less - despite a much larger population - thanks to conservation actions taken by our customers.