COVID-19 Resources

Aqua Talk and COVID-19 updates

Thank you for your critical efforts to protect public health and the environment through your water utility work during this challenging time. Now, more than ever, water is a precious resource and your work is essential for everyone to survive.

Online Resources

The Department of Public Health and Environment has created a webpage to provide Colorado-specific resources for water professionals responding to different situations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These webpage resources include:

• Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce memorandum Department of Homeland Security.
• Colorado Springs backflow prevention program COVID-19 response actions shared guidance document.  
• Updated Frequently Asked Questions  questions about utility operations and COVID-19. 
• Communication materials for systems and the public. 
• Colorado’s Water & Wastewater Agency Response Network (CoWARN) resources for utilities to share during crisis situations. 

Aqua Talk schedule change

In response to COVID-19 the state is working diligently to adapt workforce assignments to maintain business continuity for the communities that rely on our services in these times. We are also regularly communicating with utilities about COVID-19 and related impacts. We are pausing our weekly Aqua Talk blog posts.

Moving forward, Aqua Talk posts will temporarily be limited to COVID-19 updates and time-sensitive deadlines or reminders regarding regulatory requirements. We will reach out when regular Aqua Talk articles resume.

Division Contact 

You can reach the Water Quality Control Division at cdphe.commentswqcd@state.co.us



➽ Heather Wilcox, communications and special projects

Coming Down the Pipe

It's that time of year! Consumer Confidence Reports are due

What is the Consumer Confidence Report?

Each year, all community public water system must distribute an annual consumer confidence report (CCR). The CCR provides information to water consumers about the quality of their drinking water and outlines any potential risks due to water quality or management of the drinking water supply. Water consumers can in turn make informed decisions to protect their health and the health of their family. 

Distribution and Reporting Deadline

• The annual CCR must be distributed to water consumers by June 30 each year.
• A sample copy of the CCR and the associated certificate of delivery form must be submitted to the department by June 30, 2020.

Tips for Successful Completion and Distribution of your CCR

• Review the department’s Consumer Confidence Rule page for CCR guidance, templates, and frequently asked questions (FAQ).
• Use the department-generated draft CCR on the Consumer Confidence Rule page. The department generates draft CCRs for each community water system in late-February to early-March each year. 
• Be sure to review all yellow highlighted text and add information to the highlighted sections, as applicable. CCRs that are missing information required to be filled in by the water system, including an explanation of violations and significant deficiencies, will be considered incomplete by the department. Systems may incur violations for late or incomplete reports. 
• If your system used purchased water last year, ensure all applicable water quality data from the wholesale system(s) is included with your CCR.
• If using the CCR to meet public notice requirements (I.e., for a drinking water violation), you must use a direct delivery method to distribute the CCR. Direct delivery includes hard copy delivery (mail or door-to-door) or direct electronic delivery that meets department approved guidance. 
• Distribute your CCRs early to avoid a late reporting violation.
• If you have any questions that are not answered on the CCR FAQ, please contact your drinking water compliance specialist.

➽ Haley Orahood, drinking water compliance assurance