The Town of Wellington was notified of a letter sent by Poudre School District regarding potentially elevated levels of copper inside Wellington Middle High School. Understandably, we have received questions related to water treatment.
Answers to the most frequently asked questions are provided below:
How could copper get into drinking water?
Wellington's source water does not contain elevated copper levels (over 1.3 parts per million). When copper is present in water, it is typically due to the water flowing through pipes or plumbing in buildings with copper and brass parts. Service lines, which are the pipes that connect homes, schools, or other buildings to the water main, could have copper in them. Facilities may also contain copper pipes or brass fixtures.
Distribution lines in the Town of Wellington do not contain materials linked to copper leaching.
What water quality testing does the town complete and how can I view the results?
The Town of Wellington is required to regularly test drinking water in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Colorado regulations. Our utility was required to begin biannual lead and copper testing in 2017. We are proud to report we have never had a copper exceedance.
In 2021, the Town of Wellington completed over 6,700 additional water quality tests to ensure our water's safety. Wellington's water met all state and federal drinking water health standards, which are the primary standards for treating and monitoring water. All state compliance testing was completed by a State of Colorado certified laboratory.