- Home
- Live
- Departments
- Water Utilities
- Water Quality
- Drinking Water Environmental Lab
Drinking Water Environmental Lab
The Environmental Laboratory is located at Broomfield's Water Treatment Facility at 4395 W. 144th Ave. (just west of Lowell Blvd.). The Lab's mission is to assess, protect, and improve water quality in our community. This mission is achieved by developing and maintaining a water quality laboratory program to ensure that all standards for the protection of public health and the environment are met. The lab staff promptly responds to consumer concerns and provides timely follow-up. The staff works diligently to ensure that the city and county water resources are appropriately used and protected.
Program Description
Broomfield maintains an independent water quality laboratory to serve the community. The laboratory meets stringent quality assurance requirements set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and is certified to analyze drinking water for contaminants that may pose a health risk.
The Environmental Laboratory staff currently consists of six full-time employees whose duties range from collecting samples, to chemical and microbiological analyses, to program management. The goals of the program are to:
- Ensure compliance with all Drinking Water Standards for the protection of public health established by the EPA and CDPHE. The annual Drinking Water Quality Report is available for viewing. The annual Drinking Water Quality report is available in May for the previous year.
- Respond to consumer concerns by answering questions about drinking water, preparing and distributing water quality reports, collecting and analyzing samples, and investigating problems involving water quality, seeps, or other environmental concerns.
- Analyze source water supplies to determine what treatment is needed to produce high-quality drinking water.
- Monitor the treated water to assess the effectiveness of the treatment process.
- Test new water mains to ensure that they meet sanitation requirements before they are connected to the distribution system.
- Provide an early warning of problems in the distribution system that may require changes in the treatment process, or in the operation and maintenance of the system.
- Support national and statewide efforts to implement a watershed approach to improving the quality of U.S. waters by actively participating in planning, monitoring, and management activities for our watershed.
- Maintain a community pond water monitoring program (read more...)
The Environmental Laboratory provides analytical and regulatory services to various customers, including Broomfield water consumers, the Drinking Water Treatment Facility, Wastewater Reclamation Facility, Industrial Pretreatment Program, the Engineering Inspection and Utilities Divisions, state and federal regulators, and stakeholders within the watershed. Environmental Laboratory services are independent of other city divisions so that operational and regulatory functions may be carried out in an unbiased manner.
Please report any unusual tastes or odors in your drinking water to the Broomfield Water Treatment Facility at 303-464-5606, or 303-464-5600.
- What's that funny taste in my water?
-
Consumers expect the water flowing from their home taps to be safe, clear, and good-tasting. After all, the water treatment industry has been developing technologies to purify water for centuries, so why can’t we deliver a consistent product that meets these expectations? Unfortunately, undesirable tastes and odors are common in drinking water supplies, and controlling them can be frustrating for both customers and water treatment staff. Chlorine compounds used for disinfection, distribution system materials, and changes in raw water quality may all cause undesirable tastes and odors.
- White flakes, flecks, and fragments in my drinking water....what are they?
-
A few years ago, customers began calling the Water Treatment Facility to report particles clogging their shower heads, faucets, and appliances, floating in bath tubs and coffee cups, and reducing water pressure. The particles were described as whitish or light green, resembling eggshells, scale, oatmeal, or clay. A puzzling laboratory investigation finally revealed that the flakes consisted of some sort of plastic, and that the source was limited to the hot water.
- Why is my tap water brown?
-
Sometimes customers notice that their tap water has a brownish, yellow, or rusty color. The off-color is often first noticed against a white container, such as a sink, bathtub, or toilet, and usually appears suddenly. In most areas of Broomfield, brown water episodes are localized and temporary, generally caused by some nearby activity.
- Fluoride and Drinking Water
-
Stories and articles concerning fluoridation of drinking water frequently appear in newspapers, health newsletters, television programs and online content. More often than not, the reports oppose fluoridation, citing various studies and questioning its value. The questions Broomfield staff receive are typically to verify that our water is fluoridated, and at the appropriate concentration, or to voice concerns about possible safety and health risks.