Montezuma County, Colorado — public water systems

How does Montezuma County compare with other Colorado counties?

Montezuma County has the 36th-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 31,691 people served in total, the 22nd-largest county figure in the state and 0.4% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 1,864 people, about half of 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 Montezuma County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Montezuma County's active systems draw on surface water (6, 35%), purchased surface water (5, 29%), groundwater (5, 29%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 5.9%). Overall, 35% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 65% on surface water, compared with 74% and 26% across Colorado. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. The county's largest system, Montezuma Wc, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Montezuma County?

Montezuma County's active systems break down as 10 community systems (59%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (5.9%) and 6 transient non-community systems (35%). 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 (53%), local government (29%) and federal government (18%).