Perry Park Water and Sanitation District Statement on Radium Test Result
On June 30, Perry Park Water and Sanitation District received the second quarter of 2025 Combined Radium test results indicating the level of radium in our water supply was 4.0 pCi/L. This level puts the District’s four-quarter average slightly above the EPA limit at 5.04 pCi/L which exceeds the EPA and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 5 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).
The health and safety of our community is our top priority, and we are actively addressing this issue to ensure our water meets all regulatory standards. We have initiated a plan to change our water treatment methods to reduce radium levels in the water supply, including:
- In the short term, we have tested the water treatment filter media, which will require changing the filter media after the new treatment is added.
- We are exploring long-term solutions, including adding manganese sulfate to the water treatment process. When combined with potassium permanganate, hydrous manganese oxide (HMO) forms and acts like a magnet to trap the radium, making it easier to attract and filter radium out of the water.
- The HMO treatment process requires a design plan to be submitted to and approved by CDPHE. The CDPHE approval process can take up to a year before the new treatment process can be implemented. The design plan will be submitted to CDPHE in July, 2025.
- Continue monitoring - the District will continue testing and report radium levels to customers as required and confirmed by CDPHE.
Perry Park Water and Sanitation District is committed to keeping our community informed throughout this process.
Analytical Report
The following is the second quarter of 2025 Combine Radium test result. The result was received on June 30. The result was 4.0 pCi/L, which increases Perry Park’s quarterly average above the state and EPA’s standard of 5 pCi/L. Perry Park’s quarterly average is 5.04 pCi/L.
PPWSD Town Hall with Panel of Experts from Colorado Department of Health and Environment available to Answer Your Questions
The virtual town hall meeting (Passcode for the Meeting Recording: =4EPa+vL) was held on Wednesday, January 15. A radium expert from CDPHE discussed radium and its impacts to people and pets and was available to answer questions. Access the meeting presentation. We will continue updating our website to inform our community about water quality and safety.
Analytical Report
The following is the first quarter of 2025 Combined Radium test. The result was received on March 7. The result was 3.0 pCi/L, which keeps Perry Park’s quarterly average below the state and EPA’s standard of 5 pCi/L. Perry Park’s tap water is safe for all use.
December 2, 2024 Update
The following is the most recent Combined Radium test result received on December 2. The result was 3.9 pCi/L, which keeps Perry Park’s quarterly average below the state and EPA’s standard of 5 pCi/L. This test follows an October 15 test that lowered Perry Park’s quarterly average to below 5 pCi/L. On October 23, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmental rescinded the District’s radium violation, and this recent result confirms the District meets CDPHE’s water quality standard. CDPHE requires the next quarterly test in the first quarter of 2025. Perry Park’s tap water is safe for all uses.
October 30, 2024 Update
Radium in Drinking Water: Current Status, Actions, and Next Steps Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Radium
October 23, 2024 Update
From the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, October 23, 2024
The lab submitted the other Quarter 3 results collected at Perry Park's entry point 009 in September. The average for the Quarter 3 results, combined with the previous three quarters, has lowered the overall average to less than 5 pCi/L for MCL. The new LRAA is 4.8 pCi/L.
Important Statement from the Perry Park Water and Sanitation District - Updated October 21, 2024
High Levels of Combined Radium
Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this situation is not an emergency, as our customers you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. On 9/5/2024 we were notified that our system exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Combined Radium. The MCL is 5 pCi/L. The average level over the last year was 6 pCi/L.
What does this mean? What should I do?
- You do not need to boil your water or take other actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
- Some people who drink water containing radium -226 or -228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
- If you have an infant, severely compromised immune system, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your doctor about drinking this water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by bacteria and other disease-causing organisms are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What is being done?
AS THIS SAMPLE RESULT WAS HISTORICALLY THREE TO FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN IT USUALLY IS FOR THIS SYSTEM, ADDITIONAL SAMPLES ARE IMMEDIATELY BEING TAKEN FROM ALL ACTIVE WELLS AND ALSO THE COMBINED SAMPLING POINT TO CLARIFY WHETHER OR NOT THIS RESULT WAS AN ANNOMOLY OR IF FURTHER STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.
The resolution date of the problem is TO BE DETERMINED, BASED OFF OF WELL SAMPLING RESULTS. For more information, please contact DIANA MILLER at DMILLER_PPWSD@COMCAST.NET or 303-681-2050, or 5676 WEST RED ROCK DRIVE, LARKSPUR, CO 80118.
*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*
This notice is being sent to you by: PERRY PARK WSD - CO0118045
Date distributed: BEFORE 10/11/2024
Radium Fact Sheet Radium in Drinking Water - CDPHE Information
Lab Results
The pCi/L at the entry point (Sageport Water Treatment Plant) tested 7.4 pCi/L less than the 13 pCi/L result from the previous quarter.