Partnering for public health during Drinking Water Week

Governor Jared Polis has proclaimed next week, May 3-9, as Drinking Water Week in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will observe the week with the theme, "Clean, accessible drinking water is a pillar of community and public health."

As drinking water providers and key stakeholders, you are the foundation upon which this pillar rests. This annual celebration is an opportunity to remind Colorado residents and leaders that the ability to simply turn on a drinking water tap is a modern achievement, one that requires continued vigilance and investment.

Providing reliable, high-quality drinking water is an essential service that underpins the quality of life for every community in Colorado, and it is tied directly to the dedication of water professionals. From source water protection to advanced treatment and robust distribution, your work ensures high-quality water reaches every home and business. Take time during Drinking Water Week to celebrate your expertise and inspire greater public appreciation for drinking water.

The department created a commemorative bookmark for the observance week. The printable bookmark and other Drinking Water Week materials are available on our 2026 Drinking Water Week web page.

We encourage our partners to join in this effort. The department will post content on Facebook and Instagram throughout the week. By sharing our posts and promoting your own local successes, we can work together to ensure that every Coloradan understands the value of their water source and the crucial role you play in delivering a safe and reliable supply. For more information about Drinking Water Week, visit the American Water Works Association website.

➽ Lilie Waterman, Marketing and Communications Specialist

CDPHE, EPA, & Wigwam Partnership for PFAS Treatment

Resources: 

For more information please visit 

• CDPHE PFAS Proarjects Website
• WQCD Grant Website

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is excited to highlight Wigwam Mutual Water Company’s PFAS pilot project as an excellent example of the Division’s culture of health initiatives. Wigwam is a small public water system, located in El Paso, County just south of Colorado Springs, that serves approximately 1,300 people. Their source water is drawn from the Fountain Creek alluvial aquifer and through pro-active testing the public water system detected elevated levels of certain PFAS in its drinking water. The test results came back above the established EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). To address this emerging contaminant issue, CDPHE provided the community with point-of-use treatment to reduce PFAS levels to below the MCL while working towards the implementation of a more permanent treatment solution. This effort was promoted to ensure the community was provided with safe drinking water during the next planning and design phases of the project. 

Last year, CDPHE awarded Wigwam a $300,000 grant to pilot PFAS treatment technologies through the Emerging Contaminants in Small for Disadvantaged Communities (EC/SDC) grant program. This project has been a collaborative approach with direct assistance from the CDPHE, PFAS team and Engineering staff, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD). Wigwam is planning to conduct pilot testing with Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC), Anion Exchange (AIX), and a new emerging technology, namely Electrocoagulation (EC). This innovative pilot project will compare the different treatment technologies and assist Wigwam in determining if the new EC technology is feasible and able to effectively treat PFAS in its drinking water. This collaborative approach will help ensure that this community has the best information to help them find a viable treatment solution to address this water quality challenge. After the study, EPA and CDPHE will utilize the treatment piloting results to provide an assessment of the treatment options for communities in order to effectively remove PFAS and other contaminants with reasonable and sustainable costs. 

CDPHE is excited to promote the partnership between EPA ORD and Wigwam to assist in this effort.

➽ Sierra Mitchell, PFAS Program Coordinator