Mesa County, Colorado — public water systems

How does Mesa County compare with other Colorado counties?

Mesa County has the 24th-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 163,137 people served in total, the 11th-largest county figure in the state and 2.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 5,438 people, about 60% above 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 Mesa County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Mesa County's active systems draw on groundwater (14, 47%), surface water (7, 23%), purchased surface water (6, 20%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (3, 10%). Overall, 57% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 43% 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, Ute Wcd, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Mesa County?

Mesa County's active systems break down as 14 community systems (47%), 2 non-transient non-community systems (6.7%) and 14 transient non-community systems (47%). 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 (43%), local government (37%), federal government (10%) and state government (10%).