An initiative of the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder

Despite pandemic, Denver Water’s lead reduction program shows promising early results

One year after it launched one of the largest lead treatment programs in the United States, Denver Water is slightly ahead of schedule.

Wyoming’s crowded Lonesome Lake tops EPA’s national survey for fecal contamination

LONESOME LAKE, WYOMING—Whit Coleman belly flopped with style into some of Wyoming’s most famous alpine waters on a summer day. Out on a father-son backpacking trip with friends, the Salt...

Rafting season ready to launch, but COVID-19 worries running high

Colorado’s virus-related restrictions are forcing commercial rafting companies to create social distance on unruly rivers and face the potential for smaller crowds.

Colorado water utilities race to protect workers from COVID-19 as they declare tap water...

Water utilities initiated emergency action plans, asking hundreds of employees to work from home to limit the virus’ spread and to help protect the workers needed to operate water treatment and delivery systems.
Water lab photo

Citizens across the country are questioning, and sometimes fighting, chloramines in drinking water

People are fighting against disinfectants in their drinking water that cause rashes, breathing problems and more.

Once ‘paradise,’ parched Colorado valley grapples with arsenic in water

Decades of climate change-driven drought, combined with the overpumping of aquifers, is making the valley desperately dry — and appears to be intensifying the levels of heavy metals in drinking water.

Owners of Eagle River Village mobile-home park defend water quality

Residents of a mobile home park in Edwards say their well water tastes, looks and smells bad.

Water and colonialism in New Mexico – Water Buffs Podcast ep. 10 – Julia Bernal

Julia Bernal, director of the Pueblo Action Alliance, talks to Water Desk Director Mitch Tobin about the legacy of colonialism in New Mexico and its impact on water issues.

As more sanitation districts test wastewater for COVID-19, questions remain on interpreting the data

Wastewater can inform public health departments of new variants in the community, but the data collected is still inconclusive.

Advocacy and science work together to improve water quality in Coal Creek

Two non-profit groups in Crested Butte work to clean up waters still polluted from the Keystone and Standard mines.