Your Water Profile

Fountain Water: What You're Working With

Fountain's water situation is more complex than most El Paso County communities. Understanding what's in your water is the starting point for every conversation we have with Fountain homeowners.

PFAS Contamination

Peterson Space Force Base used AFFF firefighting foam for decades. PFAS compounds migrated into groundwater in the area. Some private wells near the base have tested at 1,370+ ppt — far above EPA health advisory levels. FVA municipal supply has been tested and addressed, but the history matters if you're on a private well.

Hard Municipal Water: 8–12 GPG

Fountain Valley Authority blends Pueblo Reservoir surface water with local well water. The result is moderately hard to hard water — typically 8 to 12 grains per gallon. That's enough to cause scale buildup in water heaters, on fixtures, and in appliances over time.

Private Well Risk

If your Fountain-area home is on a private well rather than FVA municipal supply, PFAS testing is not optional — it's urgent. The contamination plume from Peterson SFB extended well beyond the immediate base area. Test your well before assuming it's clean.

Treatment Solutions Available

Good news: both hardness and PFAS can be addressed with proven technology. A water softener handles hardness. A reverse osmosis system is the gold standard for PFAS reduction at the tap. Many Fountain homes benefit from both, working together.

The FVA Water Supply: Why It's Hard

Fountain Valley Authority serves most of Fountain and portions of Security-Widefield. Unlike Colorado Springs Utilities, which draws primarily from soft mountain snowmelt, FVA blends Pueblo Reservoir water with locally pumped groundwater. That groundwater comes from the same Denver Basin aquifer that produces hard water throughout El Paso County.

The result is water that typically tests between 8 and 12 grains per gallon (GPG) of hardness — meaningfully harder than Colorado Springs city water (~1.8 GPG). At these levels, you'll see white scale deposits on faucets and showerheads, reduced efficiency in water heaters, and shortened appliance lifespans. A properly sized water softener eliminates all of that.

If you're an FVA customer, your home is a good candidate for a water softener. We size systems based on actual household water usage and your specific hardness test result — not a generic formula.

Peterson SFB and PFAS: What Fountain Residents Should Know

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) entered the groundwater near Peterson Space Force Base through decades of use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in firefighting training and emergency response. These compounds are extremely persistent — they don't break down naturally in the environment, which is why they're called "forever chemicals."

Colorado was among the first states to act on PFAS contamination near military bases. Testing conducted around 2016 revealed alarming levels in private wells near Peterson SFB. Some wells tested above 1,370 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS combined — the former EPA health advisory was 70 ppt, and EPA's 2024 Maximum Contaminant Levels are now set at 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS individually.

FVA has conducted testing of its municipal supply and implemented treatment measures to reduce PFAS in the distributed water. If you're an FVA municipal customer, you can review their annual water quality reports for current PFAS levels. However, municipal treatment does not guarantee complete elimination, and health-conscious Fountain residents often add an under-sink reverse osmosis system as a final layer of protection.

If You're on a Private Well Near Peterson SFB

Private well owners in Fountain have sole responsibility for their water quality. The municipal treatment upgrades do not benefit you — your water comes directly from the aquifer. If your well has not been tested for PFAS within the past two years, testing should be your first step.

We can help coordinate certified laboratory testing for PFAS compounds including PFOA, PFOS, and the full suite of PFAS variants now covered under EPA regulations. If your results show elevated PFAS levels, a reverse osmosis system at your drinking water tap is the most practical and cost-effective solution for point-of-use protection. Whole-house PFAS treatment via granular activated carbon (GAC) is also available for homes where full-house protection is desired.

What Most Fountain Homes Actually Need

For typical FVA municipal customers in Fountain, the most common and practical treatment approach is straightforward: a water softener for hardness protection and an under-sink reverse osmosis system for drinking and cooking water. The softener protects your plumbing, water heater, and appliances. The RO system — which removes 95%+ of dissolved solids including PFAS compounds — gives you clean, great-tasting water at the kitchen tap.

For private well owners, we start with comprehensive testing before recommending anything. Hardness, PFAS, iron, bacteria, nitrates — a complete picture lets us design a system that actually addresses what's in your specific well, rather than guessing.

FAQ

Water Treatment Questions for Fountain Residents

Is Fountain tap water safe to drink?

FVA municipal water meets all federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act standards. FVA has conducted PFAS testing and implemented treatment to address contamination concerns. That said, "meets regulatory standards" and "completely free of all contaminants" are not the same thing. Many Fountain residents add a reverse osmosis system under their kitchen sink for additional peace of mind, particularly around PFAS. If you're on a private well, you need your own testing — you're not connected to FVA's treatment system.

Do I need a water softener in Fountain?

If you're on FVA municipal water, your water runs 8–12 GPG — moderately hard to hard. At those levels, a water softener will extend the life of your water heater and appliances, reduce soap scum and scale buildup, and make your water feel noticeably better for bathing. It's a sensible investment for most Fountain homes. If you're on city water from Colorado Springs Utilities, you don't need a softener — that water is naturally soft. Know your supplier before buying anything.

My private well tested high for PFAS — what do I do?

First, don't panic — but do act. For drinking and cooking water, an NSF/ANSI 58-certified reverse osmosis system removes PFOA, PFOS, and most other PFAS compounds to very low levels. This is the most practical and affordable immediate solution. For whole-house treatment, granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce PFAS throughout your home. Some homeowners combine both approaches. We can walk you through the options based on your specific test results, your family size, and your budget. Call us — this is one of the most common situations we handle in the Fountain area.

How much does PFAS filtration cost in Fountain?

An under-sink reverse osmosis system — the most common solution for drinking water PFAS protection — typically runs $400–$800 installed, depending on the system. Annual filter replacement costs are modest. A whole-house GAC system for full-home PFAS reduction is more involved and costs more, but may be appropriate for households with very high PFAS levels or specific health concerns. We'll give you an honest quote based on what you actually need, not the most expensive option we carry.

Fountain Water Treatment: PFAS and Hard Water Solutions