Recently, the State of Colorado issued a violation against the City for non-compliance with a lead-service line inventory. The state of Colorado required the City to complete a comprehensive inventory of service lines and submit that information for public record. This violation was NOT issued due to the discovery or confirmation of lead in any City water. This violation was issued because the City failed to submit necessary documentation before the State’s deadline.
WAS YOUR HOME BUILT BEFORE 1981? Beginning in 1981, the City of Woodland Park updated its engineering specs, moving towards more eco-friendly, sustainable materials for utilities used in new construction. Homes and businesses built after this date are at no risk of having service lines made of lead. The overwhelming majority of our residents will fall into this group. Service lines are the pipes that run from the City’s main lines, usually located under roadways, to each home or building throughout the community. Property owners are responsible for the portion of service pipe from your dwelling to the Point Of Shutoff (POS), while the section from the POS to the main is the City's responsibility. Service lines are made of varying materials, not all of which are still considered safe options. The City began using service lines made from other materials when the engineering specs were updated in 1981.
The City has sent letters to all homeowners, which can be expected to be received the last week of February. Homeowners with service lines of unidentified materials will receive a second letter in that envelope. That second letter addresses the process of identifying the unknown service line material. Please contact us to report the material of your service line if you receive a second letter. Homeowners with homes built before 1981 who are uncertain about their service lines can contact the City’s Utilities Department, who will help them schedule a service order for confirmation. Contact information is provided below.
To reiterate, the City of Woodland Park’s drinking water has not tested positive for any lead and has maintained standards for quality consecutively over many years. We test annually for lead citywide at state-approved designated locations. The City last tested for lead in July 2024, and lead levels were well within state parameters for health and safety. Ensuring our community's health and safety is our leading priority. We will continue to provide top-quality, safe, and healthy drinking water to all residents. The City is taking all necessary steps to rectify and reestablish our good standing with the state of Colorado.
FAQ's About Service Lines in Woodland Park:
- “The City missed an environmental report.”
- No. The deadline the City missed was for an inventory report. This report tallies known and unknown water service lines in the community. It does not require the City to test for the presence of lead. The City already does this annually.
- “City Council is not protecting the taxpayers.”
- Yes, they are. This report is the responsibility of City staff. The City Council was made aware of the issue near the release of the state-mandated notice letters sent to City residents. The Council is in communication to help support staff as needed to resolve this issue. City of Woodland Park water is safe to drink.
- “This is a life-threatening issue.”
- No, the City’s water is safe to drink. We are not dismissive of the seriousness of lead exposure. The City of Woodland Park Utilities Department regularly tests for lead at state-approved locations across the community. The last required reading was taken in July, and the City was, again, well below the state’s safety parameters. This inventory report only helps to identify water service line materials throughout the community. The City will be working with homeowners who built homes before 1981 to help determine the composition of their service lines.
- “Is the City paying fines for missing the deadline with taxpayer dollars?”
- We are not aware of any fines at this point.
- “How do I know if my home has a lead service line?”
- Was your home built BEFORE 1981? Homes built after this date will have been subject to the City’s updated building codes, with restricted lead service lines. Only homes built before 1981 have the potential for service lines to be composed of lead. To date, the City has not encountered a lead service line that was in use.
To read the City's informative article for residents about service lines, published in the Pikes Peak Courier, CLICK HERE
For information about how to help identify the service line on your property, CLICK HERE
For information about lead in drinking water, please visit: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/lead-in-drinking-water
For information about lead testing, please visit: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/lead/lead-testing
For questions or concerns not found through these resources or to schedule a service order for your home, please contact:
