Public water system · CO0145600
ActiveRocky Ford City of
At a glance
City of Rocky Ford (PWSID CO0145600) is an active community water system in Otero County, Colorado. It reports serving 4,443 people through 1,896 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
4,443
Service connections
1,896
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Rocky Ford compare with other water systems in Otero County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Rocky Ford is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Otero County has 23 active public water systems, and City of Rocky Ford is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 5.3 times the county average of 840 people per system, and accounts for 23% of the 19,329 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 Rocky Ford is about 34% below 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 1,437 Colorado systems (65%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Rocky Ford?
EPA lists City of Rocky Ford 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. 7 of the 23 active systems in Otero County (30%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Rocky Ford have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. The violations listed here began between January 2008 and January 2018. By type: 11 monitoring and reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminants or rules involved are Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Consumer Confidence Rule and Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine (IDSE) · code 30 | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0600 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Endothallcode 2033 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Heptachlor epoxidecode 2067 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Lindane (gamma-BHC)code 2010 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Aldicarb sulfonecode 2044 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Endrincode 2005 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipatecode 2035 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Ethylene dibromide (EDB)code 2946 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Oxamylcode 2036 | 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 Rocky Ford: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Rocky Ford?
City of Rocky Ford (PWSID CO0145600) 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 Rocky Ford serve?
City of Rocky Ford reports serving 4,443 people through 1,896 service connections in Otero County, Colorado.
Where does City of Rocky Ford get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does City of Rocky Ford have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. 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 Rocky Ford'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, none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. 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 Rocky Ford's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Rocky Ford 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 Otero County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Junta City of | Otero | 8,320 | Community | Groundwater |
| Fowler Town of | Otero | 1,169 | Community | Groundwater under influence of surface water |
| Bents Fort Wc | Otero | 900 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Swink Town of | Otero | 660 | Community | Groundwater |
| South Swink Water Authority | Otero | 622 | Community | Groundwater |
| Eureka Wc | Otero | 498 | Community | Groundwater |
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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, “Rocky Ford City of, PWSID CO0145600, Colorado”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/colorado/rocky-ford-city-of-co0145600 (data as of October 1, 2026).