Public water system · CO0142200
ActiveCortez City of
At a glance
City of Cortez (PWSID CO0142200) is an active community water system in Montezuma County, Colorado. It reports serving 8,770 people through 3,725 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2020.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
8,770
Service connections
3,725
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Cortez compare with other water systems in Montezuma County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Cortez is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Montezuma County has 17 active public water systems, and City of Cortez is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 4.7 times the county average of 1,864 people per system, and accounts for 28% of the 31,691 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Colorado, the 2,207 active systems average 3,400 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so City of Cortez is about 31% above that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Colorado has 1,068 active community water systems, 48% of the state's 2,207 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 228 Colorado systems (10%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Cortez?
EPA lists City of Cortez as owned by a local government. The CO state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 5 of the 17 active systems in Montezuma County (29%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Cortez have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2020. The violations listed here began between January 2011 and January 2020. By type: 11 monitoring and reporting and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminants or rules involved are Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, Methoxychlor, Oxamyl and 2,4,5-TP (Silvex). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Methoxychlorcode 2015 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Oxamylcode 2036 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)code 2110 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Benzo(a)pyrenecode 2306 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Hexachlorobenzenecode 2274 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Ethylene dibromide (EDB)code 2946 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalatecode 2039 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Chlordanecode 2959 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Endothallcode 2033 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Endrincode 2005 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Toxaphenecode 2020 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
City of Cortez: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Cortez?
City of Cortez (PWSID CO0142200) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the CO state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Cortez serve?
City of Cortez reports serving 8,770 people through 3,725 service connections in Montezuma County, Colorado.
Where does City of Cortez get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does City of Cortez have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2020. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is City of Cortez's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2020. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the CO state drinking water program.
Where can I find City of Cortez's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Cortez must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Montezuma County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma Wc | Montezuma | 13,797 | Community | Surface water |
| Mesa Verde National Park | Montezuma | 3,177 | Non-transient non-community | Surface water |
| Dolores Town of | Montezuma | 1,626 | Community | Surface water |
| Mancos Town of | Montezuma | 1,390 | Community | Surface water |
| Mancos Rural Water Company | Montezuma | 1,300 | Community | Surface water |
| Montezuma Cnty Wd No 1 | Montezuma | 490 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Cortez City of, PWSID CO0142200, Colorado”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/colorado/cortez-city-of-co0142200 (data as of October 1, 2026).