Fountain, Security & Widefield: The Ground Zero Communities
The communities most severely affected by PFAS contamination lie south of Colorado Springs along Highway 85 — Fountain, Security, and Widefield. These areas are directly downhill (hydrologically speaking) from Peterson Space Force Base, where decades of firefighting foam training exercises saturated the underlying aquifer with PFAS compounds.
The contamination was first publicly identified around 2016, when Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) testing revealed massive PFAS levels in private wells. Some wells tested above 1,370 ppt — staggering compared to EPA health thresholds. The affected communities responded quickly: Security Water District and Widefield Water and Sanitation District installed granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment systems for their municipal supplies. Many private well owners were connected to alternate water sources.
Who Is Still at Risk?
While municipal water in Security and Widefield has been treated, the risk isn't fully resolved. Private well owners who have not had their wells individually tested remain at risk. Contamination plumes don't follow property lines, and a neighbor's clean test result doesn't guarantee your well is clean. If you:
- Own a private well within 5-10 miles of Peterson Space Force Base
- Live in Fountain, Security, Widefield, or surrounding unincorporated areas
- Have not had your well tested for PFAS since 2020
- Recently moved into the area and inherited a well
...testing is strongly recommended.
Is Colorado Springs Municipal Water Affected?
No. CSU municipal customers are not at risk. CSU sources its water from Homestake Reservoir, Ruedi Reservoir, and the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project — mountain snowmelt systems physically distant from Peterson SFB. Their 2024/2025 PFAS screening found no compounds above reporting limits. If you're on CSU city water in Colorado Springs proper, PFAS from Peterson SFB is not your concern.
Health Effects: What the Evidence Shows
The EPA classifies PFOA and PFOS as carcinogenic to humans based on current evidence. Long-term exposure at elevated levels has been associated with:
- Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer
- Hormone disruption and thyroid effects
- Immune system suppression (including reduced vaccine response)
- High cholesterol
- Developmental effects in children and during pregnancy
The science is still developing, but the precautionary principle is clear: reduce exposure where possible.
PFAS Treatment Options That Actually Work
Not all filtration removes PFAS. Here's what works and what doesn't:
- NSF-certified Reverse Osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58): Removes 94-99.8% of PFAS compounds. The most effective residential option for drinking and cooking water.
- Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) — whole house: Effective for longer-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS. Less effective for shorter-chain compounds. Used by the municipal water districts in Security and Widefield.
- Point-of-entry GAC: Treats all water entering the home. Protects bathing and showering as well as drinking.
- NOT effective: Standard sediment filters, basic pitcher filters (Brita, PUR), water softeners. These do not remove PFAS.
For most private well owners with confirmed PFAS contamination, we recommend an under-sink NSF-certified RO system for drinking water as the minimum, with a whole-house GAC system for comprehensive protection.