About PFAS Contamination in Southern El Paso County

For decades, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used in firefighting training at Peterson Space Force Base released per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals") into the surrounding soil and groundwater. The plume has affected private wells across southern El Paso County — primarily in the Fountain Valley alluvial aquifer that underlies Security, Widefield, and Fountain.

In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS, establishing enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for both PFOA and PFOS — the two most studied PFAS compounds. Public water systems must comply by 2029. Private wells have no such enforcement — the responsibility sits with the homeowner.

Affected ZIP codes include 80911 (Security), 80925 (Widefield), and 80817 (Fountain), plus surrounding unincorporated areas. The El Paso County Public Health department and Colorado DPHE have published sampling data over the past several years. We can point you to the relevant studies during a consultation.

Should You Test?

Who Should Test for PFAS

If any of the following describes your situation, get tested.

You're on a private well in Security, Widefield, Fountain, or any unincorporated area south of Peterson SFB.
Your well is in the Fountain Valley alluvial aquifer or within several miles of the base perimeter.
You've never had your water tested for PFAS specifically — standard well water panels do not include them.
You have infants, pregnant family members, or anyone with a compromised immune system drinking the water.
You're buying a home in any of these areas and want to know what you're inheriting.

Municipal customers on Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) water tested clean for all 29 regulated PFAS compounds in CSU's 2024–2025 sampling. The contamination concern is specifically for private wells in the affected zone.

Treatment

How We Remove PFAS

Two technologies, used together, remove PFAS to non-detect levels in residential settings.

Whole-Home Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)

A whole-home GAC system installs at your main water line and treats every drop entering the house — showers, dishwashers, laundry, garden hose. PFAS molecules adsorb to the carbon as water passes through. Properly sized GAC systems are NSF/ANSI 53 certified for PFAS reduction. Media is replaced on a schedule based on flow volume and starting concentration.

Point-of-Use Reverse Osmosis (RO)

An under-sink RO unit produces drinking and cooking water that is essentially PFAS-free. RO membranes physically reject PFAS molecules, achieving 95–99% removal. NSF/ANSI 58 certified RO systems are the gold standard for drinking water in PFAS-affected households.

For households in the Peterson plume zone, we typically recommend both: GAC for whole-home protection (skin absorption during showers is a real exposure pathway), and RO at the kitchen sink for the highest possible drinking water quality.

Pricing

Our PFAS Packages

One straightforward package, sized to your household and well chemistry.

Whole-Home GAC + Under-Sink RO — starting $3,500

Includes a properly-sized whole-home granular activated carbon system installed at your main water line, plus a high-quality NSF-certified reverse osmosis unit at your kitchen sink. Installation, startup, post-install testing, and a 1-year media replacement check are included.

Final pricing depends on flow rate, starting PFAS concentration, household size, and any existing well treatment we need to integrate with. We'll quote firm pricing after testing — not before.

Testing

PFAS Testing for Private Wells

You can't see, smell, or taste PFAS. The only way to know what's in your water is to test.

Public reporting from El Paso County Public Health has documented private well PFAS results over 1,370 ppt in some Security/Widefield/Fountain wells — more than 340 times the new EPA limit. Other wells in the same neighborhoods have tested clean. Plumes are not uniform — the only data that matters is from your well.

Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) tested all of its sources for the 29 EPA-regulated PFAS compounds in 2024–2025 and found no detections above reporting limits in the municipal supply. If you're on CSU water, your supply is clean. If you're on a private well in the affected zone, you should not assume.

We coordinate PFAS sampling through state-certified laboratories using EPA Method 537.1 or 533. Sample collection happens at your home; results return in 2–3 weeks. We walk you through the numbers in plain English and only recommend treatment if it's actually warranted.

Schedule PFAS-Aware Testing

FAQ

PFAS Questions

What's the new EPA limit for PFAS in drinking water?

In April 2024, the EPA set enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for both PFOA and PFOS, with separate limits for PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (GenX), plus a Hazard Index for mixtures. Public water systems must comply by 2029. Private wells are not regulated, but the same health-protective levels apply if you want to follow current science.

Does a standard water softener remove PFAS?

No. Ion exchange softeners are designed for calcium and magnesium — they pass PFAS straight through. Standard sediment filters, UV, and most carbon block filters also do not provide reliable PFAS reduction at the new EPA levels. The only NSF-certified residential technologies for PFAS are properly-sized granular activated carbon (NSF/ANSI 53) and reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58).

I'm on Colorado Springs Utilities water — do I need to worry?

CSU's 2024–2025 testing across all source waters found no PFAS detections above the EPA reporting limits. If you're on CSU water, your municipal supply is currently clean for the 29 regulated PFAS compounds. The contamination concern in this region is specific to private wells in the Fountain Valley alluvial aquifer south of Peterson SFB.

Can I just buy a pitcher filter?

Some pitcher filters are NSF/ANSI 53 certified for PFOA/PFOS reduction, but they only treat what you pour through them. Showering, bathing, dishwashing, brushing teeth — none of that is filtered. Skin absorption and aerosol inhalation during showers are documented PFAS exposure pathways. For households in the affected zone, whole-home treatment plus a dedicated drinking-water system is the responsible answer.

How long does PFAS treatment equipment last?

Whole-home GAC media typically lasts 1–3 years depending on starting PFAS levels, water usage, and other contaminants competing for adsorption sites. RO membranes typically last 2–5 years with proper pre-filtration. We track your service intervals and notify you before media is exhausted — you don't have to remember.

PFAS Water Filtration — Security, Widefield & Fountain