Is tap water safe in Fountain?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Fountain, CO?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 231.5 ppm (13.5 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 80928?

At 231.5 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Fountain water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Fountain, Colorado.

Median indexed hardness

228PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 225–231.5 PPM

State comparison: 169 PPM above
State hardness rank: #15 of 58
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Fountain has 2 published ZIP profiles across El Paso County. The indexed median is 228 PPM, compared with 59 PPM across Colorado.

Among the 58 Coloradocities with an indexed median, Fountain ranks #15from highest to lowest. Across all 161 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 13.7to 829 PPM.

The 225–231.5 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard2 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 14.6 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Jan 5, 2016 to May 20, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Fountain

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

80817

Very Hard

225 PPM

Nearest site: 1 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

80928

Very Hard

231.5 PPM

Nearest site: 14.6 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Fountain City Of

PWSID CO0121275

Surface water

System population served: 25,130
Last reported: Jun 17, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Combined Uranium	CO0121275	Jan 1, 2023	Resolved
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)	CO0121275	Jan 1, 2023	Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U	CO0121275	Jan 1, 2023	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Colorado communities

Colorado Springs

El Paso County

206 PPM median

Manitou Springs

El Paso County

110 PPM median

Pueblo

Pueblo County

232 PPM median

Gunnison

Gunnison County

235 PPM median

Montrose

Montrose County

235 PPM median

Crested Butte

Gunnison County

212 PPM median

Search all 58 Colorado cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Fountain

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 228 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.