None of the 36 water systems operating in La Plata County have exceeded federal lead limits since 2013, but two systems reported spikes from samples taken in 2012.

According to data maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Glacier Club and Durango West II Metropolitan District each had one water sample that exceeded the federal action limit of 15 parts per billion in their most recent sample periods.

In both cases, the spikes were isolated to one household as opposed to the entire water system or a section of the water system. Further testing was required, but once the high readings were isolated to individual homes, no further action was required.

The city of Durango, which operates the largest water system in the county, has not had any detectable lead in its water samples since at least 1992, according to EPA data.

A water sample taken in 2012 from a home in Durango West II subdivision, which serves 930 people, registered 45 parts per billion of lead.

Tyler Whitt, district water and wastewater operator, said a couple of residents installed water softeners, which increases the likelihood of elements being leached from plumbing inside the house, especially if faucets contain lead. Property owners with water softeners were notified of the high readings, he said.

There are no lead pipes in the ground and no lead coming from the source well, he said.

To reduce the threat of tainted water, residents with water softeners can run water for 30 to 60 seconds before drawing drinking water, he said.

A similar situation occurred with the Glacier Club water system, which serves about 525 people.

The district did its regular testing in September 2012 at five locations specified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. One of the five homes had a high reading for lead, said Dave Harris, attorney for the Glacier Club.

“Prior to this incident, we’ve never had a lead-related incident, and subsequent to it, we’ve never had a lead-related violation,” he said.

After the high reading, the district went back to the residence and tested the same faucet and a different faucet. The faucet that was high in September 2012 was still high, but the other faucet inside the house was 87 percent lower for lead, Harris said.

“Our conclusion was clearly the faucet that had the higher lead content had some lead solder in it,” he said.

The Glacier Club notified all water users of the high test result and talked to the homeowner about the aberrational results.

“We strongly recommended that she change out that faucet,” Harris said.

He added: “This is way out of the norm, and it has never reoccurred.”

shane@durangoherald.com

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Water systemPopulation servedMost recent sample periodSortMost recent sample result (ppb)Total times over limit since 2013Total times over limit since 1992Total samples taken since 1992DURANGO WEST MD NO 29307/01/12 - 12/31/123645 over limit018GLACIER CLUB5251/01/11 - 12/31/133519 over limit019LILLY BELLE301/01/11 - 6/30/113410 under limit016DURANGO 9R SUNNYSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL1261/01/11 - 12/31/113310 under limit018UTE PASS WA INC1201/01/11 - 12/31/11328 under limit0 5PURGATORY MD1,2251/01/11 - 12/31/13317 under limit018ANIMAS WC2,7201/01/11 - 12/31/13306 under limit0 8LOS RANCHITOS HOA841/01/07 - 12/31/07295.7 under limit0 6PINE RIVER MDCA311/01/14 - 12/31/16285.4 under limit0 3HOMESTEAD TRAILS1741/01/09 - 12/31/09275.3 under limit0 5SIERRA VERDE WATER CO LLC371/01/08 - 12/31/10264.7 under limit0 7FALLS CREEK RANCH NO 11101/01/08 - 12/31/10254 under limit0 9DURANGO 9 R FLORIDA MESA SCHOOL4001/01/11 - 12/31/11244 under limit018MOUNTAIN VISTA MHP701/01/06 - 12/31/06233.2 under limit0 9BAYFIELD TOWN OF2,3001/01/11 - 12/31/13223 under limit0 8DURANGO NORTH VILLAGE1501/01/11 - 12/31/13213 under limit0 8EL RANCHO FLORIDA MD4001/01/11 - 12/31/13203 under limit0 8FALLS CREEK RANCH NO 2741/01/11 - 12/31/13293 under limit0110ROSA JOINT VENTURES WATER SYSTEM2101/01/11 - 12/31/13182.3 under limit0 3IGNACIO TOWN OF1,7001/01/11 - 12/31/13172 under limit0 6TALL PINES VILLAGE651/01/11 - 12/31/13162 under limit0 9MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK3,4781/01/11 - 6/30/11152 under limit019DURANGO 9 R FT LEWIS MESA ELEM SCHOOL1841/01/11 - 12/31/11142 under limit029HAPPY SCENES WS INC1291/01/11 - 12/31/11132 under limit0 3HEARTWOOD CO OP HOUSING751/01/06 - 12/31/06121.3 under limit0 6SOUTHWEST HORIZON RANCH3231/01/06 - 12/31/06111.3 under limit0 5IGNACIO-SOUTHERN UTE RURAL WATER SYSTEM2,3001/01/13 - 12/31/15101 under limit0 6LAKE DURANGO WA2,8001/01/11 - 12/31/1391 under limit0 8LAPLATA VISTA ESTATES HOA681/01/11 - 12/31/1381 under limit0311VALLECITO VALLEY SUBD1381/01/11 - 12/31/1171 under limit0 5LAKE MEADOWS MHP1051/01/11 - 12/31/1960.54 under limit0 6NARROW GAUGE MHP1501/01/07 - 12/31/0750.1 under limit0 8DURANGO CITY OF23,0691/01/14 - 12/31/1640 under limit0 10KNOLLS AT DURANGO HOA1501/01/11 - 12/31/1330 under limit0 7LIGHTNER CREEK MHP901/01/11 - 12/31/1320 under limit0110DURANGO LA PLATA AIRPORT7801/01/11 - 12/31/1110 under limit0 7

Source: AP/Environmental Protection Agency

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Glacier Club letter to owner (PDF)

Glacier Club note to residents (PDF)