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

Denver Water is halfway through replacing lead pipes. Why didn’t this happen sooner?

On an early morning, a quiet Denver neighborhood was temporarily transformed into a construction zone. A boring machine on the road outside someone’s home pointed a long, thin drill...

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.

Study: Colorado’s water still affordable, but that may change as COVID-19 stresses utilities

Western states are still able to provide relatively affordable water, but that could change as utilities try to recoup losses associated with the pandemic and begin to pay for the massive repairs and upgrades to their systems that were on the drawing board before COVID-19 struck.
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.

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.

Hard water: In these metro neighborhoods, few drink the tap water. Can trust in...

Some Colorado residents have been experiencing drinking water contamination for years. When the water will be safe to drink is unknown.
Beach at Barr Lake, where agencies are working to remove toxic algae. May 31, 2022. Credit: Jerd Smith, Fresh Water News

Heading to the lake? Colorado trying new tools, including P-Free lawns, to combat toxic...

Colorado water officials hope to combat algae blooms caused by rising temperatures and an increased use of phosphorus-laced lawn fertilizers.

Solving water insecurity on the Navajo Nation – Water Buffs Podcast ep. 7 – Kaitlin...

About one-third of Navajo Nation residents lack running water in their homes and water pollution remains a serious issue in the region. We talk to Kaitlin Harris of DigDeep’s Navajo Water Project about solutions to these pressing problems.

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.

Courtroom battle could lead to limits on fluoridation of drinking water

A trial underway in San Francisco could spell the beginning of the end of water fluoridation in America, potentially affecting drinking water for hundreds of millions of people.