Drinking Water

Public Drinking Water


Safe clean drinking water is one of the foundation stones for a healthy community. Large community and small non-community systems serving such places as towns, drinking water systems, pipelines, summer camps, restaurants, campgrounds, and motels in Delta County are inspected and regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division Drinking Water Program.

For more information, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency Colorado Drinking Water information site.

Private Drinking Water


Private drinking water sources are supplied from groundwater wells or springs.  The quality and safety of the water supplied from these sources varies greatly depending on geology, aquifer depth, well construction, spring collection, and other factors.  The West Central Public Health Partnership has gathered groundwater quality data from private drinking water samples collected in the Region 10 Counties through a Safe Watch grant from the Centers of Disease Control.  Maps of water quality from groundwater wells and spring water compared to drinking water standards in Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel Counties can be found here:

 Water quality map  

Ensure Safe Drinking Water


Private well water quality is not regulated, so providing safe drinking water from a private well is the responsibility of the well owner. Two helpful publications are:
• Is Your Well Well? brochure
• “Protecting Your Private Well”, published by Colorado State University Extension.
• “Drinking Water from Household Wells”, from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

These publications address the following topics:
• Groundwater quality and potential contaminants
• Naturally occurring sources of pollution
• Installing a new well
• Well location and setbacks
• How to protect your ground water supply
• Well construction and maintenance
• Abandoned wells
• Water testing
• Interpreting your water test result
• FAQs about well water quality

Treatment Systems


It is possible to check your private drinking water to determine if it is safe for drinking. Bacteriologic testing sample containers are available at the Delta County Environmental Health Division offices to sample your water for bacteriological contamination. Samples will be sent to the Grand Junction Regional Laboratory for testing.

Western Slope Laboratories Certified to Test Drinking Water


Enviro-Chem Analytical
685 West Gunnison Avenue
Suite 108
Grand Junction, CO
970-242-6154

City of Gunnison Wastewater Treatment Plant
524 County Road 32
Gunnison, CO
970-641-8042

Mesa County Health Department Regional Laboratory
510 29.5 Road
Grand Junction, CO
970-248-6999