88× EWG Guideline
High risk: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
cancer
- Detected
- 13.2 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.15 ppb
- EPA Limit
- 80 ppb
88× EWG Guideline
Vail, Colorado · Eagle County
What's Actually in Vail's Water?
Municipal reports tell part of the story. This page lets you explore Vail's water source, hardness, detected contaminants, EWG health guidelines, EPA legal limits — and what those numbers actually mean for a home in the valley.
Serving Vail, Lionshead, Golden Peak, and surrounding valley communities
- Local Colorado Mountain Team
- Utility Data Explained Clearly
- Authorized Kinetico Dealer
- Recommendations Only When They Fit
Vail Water at a Glance
Vail Water at a Glance
A factual snapshot from publicly available utility testing compiled by the Environmental Working Group for Eagle River Water & Sanitation District. Use it as a starting point — the full contaminant explorer below shows detected levels, EWG health guidelines, and EPA legal limits.
- Water Utility
- Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
- Typical Hardness
- Moderately hard
- Contaminants Detected
- 32
- Exceeding EWG Guidelines
- 16
- Last Updated
- 2023
Exceeding an EWG health guideline is not the same as violating an EPA legal limit. EWG guidelines are often more conservative research benchmarks; utilities can meet federal standards while still showing results above EWG thresholds.
Local Water Quality
Vail Contaminant Explorer
Search and filter individual contaminants for Vail. Each card shows the detected level alongside the EWG health guideline and EPA legal limit where available — so you can see the difference between research guidance and federal compliance.
No contaminants match your search or filter. Try adjusting your criteria.
81× EWG Guideline
High risk: Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
cancer
- Detected
- 4.85 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.06 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
81× EWG Guideline
68× EWG Guideline
High risk: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
- Detected
- 0.0680 ppt
- EWG Guideline
- 0.001 ppt
- EPA Limit
- 10 ppt
68× EWG Guideline
61× EWG Guideline
High risk: Bromodichloromethane
cancer
- Detected
- 3.65 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.06 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
61× EWG Guideline
46× EWG Guideline
High risk: Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
cancer
- Detected
- 4.57 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.1 ppb
- EPA Limit
- 60 ppb
46× EWG Guideline
35× EWG Guideline
High risk: Dibromochloromethane
cancer
- Detected
- 3.51 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.1 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
35× EWG Guideline
33× EWG Guideline
High risk: Dibromoacetic acid
- Detected
- 0.982 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.03 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
33× EWG Guideline
13× EWG Guideline
High risk: Trichloroacetic acid
cancer
- Detected
- 1.34 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.1 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
13× EWG Guideline
12× EWG Guideline
High risk: Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
cancer
- Detected
- 0.61 pCi/L
- EWG Guideline
- 0.05 pCi/L
- EPA Limit
- 5 pCi/L
12× EWG Guideline
11× EWG Guideline
High risk: Chloroform
cancer
- Detected
- 4.35 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.4 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
11× EWG Guideline
11× EWG Guideline
High risk: Dichloroacetic acid
cancer
- Detected
- 2.16 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.2 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
11× EWG Guideline
7.6× EWG Guideline
Moderate risk: Chromium (hexavalent)
cancer
- Detected
- 0.153 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.02 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
7.6× EWG Guideline
3.5× EWG Guideline
Moderate risk: Bromoform
cancer
- Detected
- 1.73 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 0.5 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
3.5× EWG Guideline
3.3× EWG Guideline
Moderate risk: Nitrate
cancer
- Detected
- 0.462 ppm
- EWG Guideline
- 0.14 ppm
- EPA Limit
- 10 ppm
3.3× EWG Guideline
2.7× EWG Guideline
Moderate risk: Uranium
cancer
- Detected
- 1.18 pCi/L
- EWG Guideline
- 0.43 pCi/L
- EPA Limit
- 20 pCi/L
2.7× EWG Guideline
1.5× EWG Guideline
Moderate risk: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- Detected
- 0.137 ppt
- EWG Guideline
- 0.09 ppt
- EPA Limit
- None
1.5× EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Chlorate
- Detected
- 104.5 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 210 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Barium
- Detected
- 119.8 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 700 ppb
- EPA Limit
- 2,000 ppb
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
- Detected
- 0.0680 ppt
- EWG Guideline
- 0.3 ppt
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
- Detected
- 0.120 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 2 ppb
- EPA Limit
- 50 ppb
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Selenium
- Detected
- 3.38 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 30 ppb
- EPA Limit
- 50 ppb
Within EWG Guideline
Detected
Low risk: Chromium (total)
- Detected
- 2.00 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- —
- EPA Limit
- 100 ppb
Detected
Low risk: Fluoride
- Detected
- 0.501 ppm
- EWG Guideline
- —
- EPA Limit
- 4 ppm
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Manganese
- Detected
- 0.454 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 100 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Molybdenum
- Detected
- 0.0455 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 40 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Monobromoacetic acid
- Detected
- 0.139 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 25 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Monochloroacetic acid
- Detected
- 0.0350 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 53 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
- Detected
- 0.0790 ppt
- EWG Guideline
- 2,000 ppt
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
- Detected
- 0.0630 ppt
- EWG Guideline
- 1,000 ppt
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
- Detected
- 0.440 ppt
- EWG Guideline
- 1,000 ppt
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Strontium
- Detected
- 0.206 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 1,500 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
Within EWG Guideline
Within EWG Guideline
Low risk: Vanadium
- Detected
- 0.0223 ppb
- EWG Guideline
- 21 ppb
- EPA Limit
- None
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.
From the Numbers to Daily Life
What Does This Mean in a Vail Home?
Utility reports describe water leaving the plant. Hardness and mineral content still show up in showers, fixtures, appliances, and taste once that water reaches a Vail kitchen or bathroom — which is why homeowners often notice these patterns first.
Scale on fixtures and glass shower doors that will not scrub away
Dry skin and hair after showering — especially during ski season
Water heaters and appliances working harder than they should
Tap water that affects taste for coffee, cooking, and everyday drinking
Local Context
About Vail's Water
Vail's source water often carries elevated minerals that cause hardness, scale on fixtures, and taste issues — especially in luxury homes with high-use kitchens and spa-like bathrooms.
Utility
Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
Primarily municipal
Water Source
Much of Eagle County is served by the Eagle River Water & Sanitation District, which treats surface water from Eagle County sources and distributes it to homes and businesses throughout the corridor.
Water Hardness
Moderately 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 water is treated to meet federal health standards before it reaches your meter. Hardness, taste, and mineral content are separate from compliance — and can still affect daily comfort and appliance maintenance.
Common Characteristics
- · Vail-area municipal water is typically moderately hard to hard, with minerals from mountain source water
- · Scale on fixtures and glass shower doors is a common complaint in high-use kitchens and bathrooms
- · Seasonal tourism and second-home use can mean water sits in pipes longer, affecting taste and first-draw quality
- · Elevation and cold-weather use patterns can make dry skin after showering more noticeable in winter
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 Vail
The difference shows up in everyday moments around your Vail home — not just on a spec sheet.
Untreated Water
What many Vail 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
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
| 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
Showers That Feel Better
Softer water on your skin and hair — something you notice the first week.
Water Worth Drinking
Dedicated drinking water filtration for coffee, ice, and everyday hydration.
Protected Appliances
Help extend the life of water heaters, dishwashers, and the fixtures you have already invested in.
Vail Questions
Common Questions
Do Vail homes need a water softener?
Many Vail-area homes have hard water that causes scale, dry skin, and appliance wear. An in-home water analysis shows what is in your water and whether treatment makes sense — before you spend a dollar.
Do you install reverse osmosis in Vail?
Yes. When drinking-water taste or filtration is the priority, we install Kinetico drinking water systems, including reverse osmosis. Every recommendation starts with your water test — not a catalog page.
How much does a water analysis cost in Vail?
Nothing. Our in-home water analysis is complimentary with no obligation. A specialist visits your Vail home, tests your water, and explains the results in plain language.
Curious What Reaches Your Tap?
Utility reports are system-wide. An in-home analysis shows what is arriving at your Vail kitchen sink — explained clearly, with recommendations only if they make sense.
Schedule an In-Home Water Analysis