Chaffee County, Colorado — public water systems

How does Chaffee County compare with other Colorado counties?

Chaffee County has the 13th-most active public water systems among the 113 counties listed for active Colorado systems in EPA records; among the 65 with 3 or more systems, the median has 18. Its systems report 25,274 people served in total, the 27th-largest county figure in the state and 0.3% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 372 people, well below the Colorado average of 3,400. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Chaffee County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Chaffee County's active systems draw on groundwater (59, 87%), groundwater under influence of surface water (3, 4.4%), surface water (3, 4.4%) and purchased groundwater (2, 2.9%). Overall, 94% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 5.9% on surface water, compared with 74% and 26% across Colorado. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, City of Salida, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Chaffee County?

Chaffee County's active systems break down as 18 community systems (26%), 4 non-transient non-community systems (5.9%) and 46 transient non-community systems (68%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (78%), federal government (12%), local government (7.4%) and state government (1.5%).