Skip to content
Gunnison County · Colorado

Gunnison Homes Deserve Better Water

Gunnison Valley water is shaped by high-country geology. If scale, dry skin, or taste issues sound familiar, a complimentary in-home analysis is the right first step.

Serving Gunnison and surrounding Gunnison County communities

Water Softener Gunnison Water Filtration Gunnison
Spot-free crystal wine glass admired in a luxury home

At a Glance

Gunnison Water at a Glance

Water Utility
City of Gunnison
Typical Hardness
Moderately hard to hard
Contaminants Detected
22
Exceeding EWG Guidelines
14
Last Updated
2024

Local Water Quality

Contaminant Dashboard

The following contaminants were detected in utility testing data compiled by the Environmental Working Group. Each card shows detected levels alongside EWG health guidelines and EPA legal limits where applicable.

Showing 22 of 22 contaminants

215× EWG Guideline

High risk: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)

Detected
0.215 ppt
EWG Guideline
0.001 ppt
EPA Limit
10 ppt

215× EWG Guideline

31× EWG Guideline

High risk: Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

cancer

Detected
3.08 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.1 ppb
EPA Limit
60 ppb

31× EWG Guideline

27× EWG Guideline

High risk: Dibromoacetic acid

Detected
0.813 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.03 ppb
EPA Limit
None

27× EWG Guideline

16× EWG Guideline

High risk: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

cancer

Detected
2.40 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.15 ppb
EPA Limit
80 ppb

16× EWG Guideline

13× EWG Guideline

High risk: Bromodichloromethane

cancer

Detected
0.788 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.06 ppb
EPA Limit
None

13× EWG Guideline

7.7× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Dichloroacetic acid

cancer

Detected
1.54 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.2 ppb
EPA Limit
None

7.7× EWG Guideline

7.5× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Trichloroacetic acid

cancer

Detected
0.745 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.1 ppb
EPA Limit
None

7.5× EWG Guideline

6× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Nitrate

cancer

Detected
0.835 ppm
EWG Guideline
0.14 ppm
EPA Limit
10 ppm

6× EWG Guideline

5.9× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Dibromochloromethane

cancer

Detected
0.595 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.1 ppb
EPA Limit
None

5.9× EWG Guideline

5.4× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Radium, combined (-226 and -228)

cancer

Detected
0.27 pCi/L
EWG Guideline
0.05 pCi/L
EPA Limit
5 pCi/L

5.4× EWG Guideline

3.4× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Uranium

cancer

Detected
1.48 pCi/L
EWG Guideline
0.43 pCi/L
EPA Limit
20 pCi/L

3.4× EWG Guideline

2.6× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Nitrate and nitrite

cancer

Detected
0.358 ppm
EWG Guideline
0.14 ppm
EPA Limit
10 ppm

2.6× EWG Guideline

2.6× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

cancer

Detected
0.233 ppt
EWG Guideline
0.09 ppt
EPA Limit
None

2.6× EWG Guideline

2.1× EWG Guideline

Moderate risk: Chloroform

cancer

Detected
0.827 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.4 ppb
EPA Limit
None

2.1× EWG Guideline

Within EWG Guideline

Low risk: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)

Detected
0.290 ppt
EWG Guideline
0.3 ppt
EPA Limit
None

Within EWG Guideline

Within EWG Guideline

Low risk: Bromoform

Detected
0.137 ppb
EWG Guideline
0.5 ppb
EPA Limit
None

Within EWG Guideline

Detected

Low risk: Fluoride

Detected
0.148 ppm
EWG Guideline
EPA Limit
4 ppm
Within EWG Guideline

Low risk: Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)

Detected
0.288 ppt
EWG Guideline
2,000 ppt
EPA Limit
None

Within EWG Guideline

Within EWG Guideline

Low risk: Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)

Detected
0.0590 ppt
EWG Guideline
1,000 ppt
EPA Limit
None

Within EWG Guideline

Within EWG Guideline

Low risk: Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)

Detected
0.599 ppt
EWG Guideline
1,000 ppt
EPA Limit
None

Within EWG Guideline

Within EWG Guideline

Low risk: Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)

Detected
0.567 ppt
EWG Guideline
1,000 ppt
EPA Limit
None

Within EWG Guideline

Within EWG Guideline

Low risk: Toluene

Detected
0.0880 ppb
EWG Guideline
150 ppb
EPA Limit
1,000 ppb

Within EWG Guideline

Data source: Environmental Working Group Tap Water Database

Context

What Does This Mean?

EWG health guidelines are often more conservative than EPA legal limits. They reflect levels many scientists and public health agencies consider protective over a lifetime of exposure — not the minimum required for federal compliance.

Municipal water utilities can fully comply with federal regulations while still containing trace levels of contaminants above EWG's recommended thresholds. That does not necessarily mean your tap water is unsafe — it means there are different standards for legal compliance versus long-term health research.

Detected contaminants in a utility report do not automatically mean water is unsafe to drink. Utility testing is a community-level snapshot of treated water leaving the plant, measured against two different kinds of benchmarks.

In-home testing can still be useful because water changes after it leaves the plant. Neighborhood, private wells, plumbing materials, and building age all affect what actually arrives at your tap — something a system-wide report cannot show.

Water quality varies from home to home. Municipal reports reflect utility testing — not what arrives at your kitchen sink after traveling through private plumbing, or whether your home is on a well versus city water. Neighborhood, building age, and pipe materials all matter.

Hard Water in Gunnison

Common Homeowner Concerns

A lot of Gunnison homeowners notice these signs before they ever think about treating their water.

Mineral-rich source water that leaves scale on fixtures and shower glass in Gunnison

Dry skin and hair after showering — especially during winter months

Spots on glassware and dishware that will not rinse away

Appliances and water heaters working harder because of scale buildup

Local Context

About Gunnison's Water

Gunnison sits in Colorado's mountain country, where mineral-rich source water is common. Hardness, scale, and taste issues show up in showers, kitchens, and appliances — often before homeowners realize water is the cause.

Utility

City of Gunnison

Municipal & private well

Water Source

Gunnison's municipal water system treats regional high-country source water for homes and businesses in the Gunnison Valley.

Water Hardness

Moderately hard to hard

Hardness and mineral content in this area often show up as scale, spotting, and extra wear on water-using appliances — measured most accurately at the tap.

Municipal Notes

Municipal utilities publish annual water quality reports for treated supply leaving the plant. Private wells are not covered by those reports — water chemistry can differ significantly from a neighbor on city water.

Common Characteristics

  • · Mineral-rich source water is common in and around Gunnison, which often contributes to water hardness
  • · Calcium and magnesium minerals can leave scale on fixtures, shower glass, and appliances over time
  • · Hardness levels can vary by neighborhood, water source, and whether your home is on municipal supply or a private well
  • · Taste, odor, and skin comfort are everyday signs that your specific water may differ from a neighbor's

Typical Issues

  • · White scale on fixtures and shower glass
  • · Spotting on dishes and glassware
  • · Dry skin and hair after showering
  • · Extra wear on water-using appliances

Side by Side

Untreated vs. Treated Water in Gunnison

The difference shows up in everyday moments around your Gunnison home — not just on a spec sheet.

Untreated Water

What many Gunnison homes have now

  • Dry skin and dull hair after showering
  • Spots on dishes and cloudy glassware
  • Scale buildup on fixtures and appliances
  • Off taste from the tap
See What's In My Water
Recommended

With Kinetico

What homeowners notice after treatment

  • Softer feel in the shower
  • Clear glassware and spot-free dishes
  • Longer appliance life
  • Water you actually want to drink
Schedule My Free Water Test
How treated water changes daily life at home
Area Untreated With Kinetico
Showers Dry, tight skin Softer feel
Dishes Spots & film Clear & clean
Appliances Scale buildup Longer life
Drinking water Off taste Purer taste
Laundry Stiff & faded Softer fabrics

What Changes

How Better Water Feels Day to Day

Water You Enjoy Every Day

Better taste for drinking, cooking, and ice — right at home in Gunnison.

Softer Water Throughout

Showers, laundry, and fixtures that feel noticeably gentler on skin and finishes.

Regional Service & Support

Complimentary in-home analysis, honest recommendations, and service from a regional team across nine Colorado counties.

Gunnison Questions

Common Questions

Do you serve Gunnison, Colorado?

Yes. Gunnison is within our nine-county service territory across Colorado's Western Slope. Schedule a complimentary in-home water analysis online or by phone.

How much does a water analysis cost in Gunnison?

Nothing. Our in-home water analysis is complimentary with no obligation. A water treatment specialist visits your home, tests your water, and explains the results in plain language.

What water treatment do Gunnison homes typically need?

Every home is different. Source water in this region often carries minerals that cause hardness and scale — but your water test tells the real story. We recommend treatment only when it makes sense for your home.

What does hard water look like in Gunnison homes?

Hard water has elevated calcium and magnesium. In Gunnison, that often means scale on fixtures, dry skin after showers, spots on glassware, and appliances that work harder than they should. A free in-home analysis measures hardness in your specific home.

Do I have to buy something after the test?

No. The analysis is genuinely free. We share what we find and recommend treatment only if it makes sense for your home and your budget.

Test Your Actual Water

Utility reports are system-wide. Water at your Gunnison home can vary by neighborhood, plumbing, wells, and building age. A complimentary in-home analysis shows what is arriving at your tap — no cost, no obligation.

Schedule My Free Water Analysis