East Larimer County WD

East Larimer County (ELCO) Water District has provided reliable, high-quality municipal water to residents since 1962. In the past year, ELCO delivered approximately 1 billion gallons of water to its 7,146 customer accounts throughout the District. Rigorous water quality testing showed full compliance with all health standards established by regulatory agencies.

The water treatment process involves thousands of tests annually, with most conducted at the treatment facility to monitor operational effectiveness. Both ELCO and treatment providers must perform regular testing to demonstrate compliance with all applicable water quality regulations. These test results are filed with the Colorado Department of Health and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Water Source Information
ELCO receives treated water from the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant (SCFP) located at the base of Horsetooth Reservoir dam. This water comes directly from Horsetooth Reservoir and the Poudre River via the Pleasant Valley Pipeline. After water rights conversion from agricultural to municipal use, approximately half of the District's supply will come from the Poudre River.

ELCO's distribution system connects to the City of Fort Collins Water Treatment Plant (CFCWTP), which is adjacent to SCFP, allowing for blended water supplies. ELCO jointly owns and operates the SCFP with North Weld County Water District and Fort Collins-Loveland Water District. The facility serves approximately 75,000 northern Colorado residents across multiple communities.

Treatment Process
Water arriving at SCFP undergoes multiple treatment stages:

• Flocculation - chemicals combine with particles to create "floc" that captures debris and dirt
• Sedimentation - floc settles to basin bottoms for removal while clear water moves to filtration
• Filtration - water passes through layers of coal, sand and gravel to remove remaining impurities
• Stabilization - additives reduce water corrosiveness
• Final treatment - small amounts of chlorine kill bacteria while fluoride helps reduce dental decay

Potential Contaminants
All water sources (tap and bottled) can contain various contaminants from natural or human activities:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage systems, livestock operations and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals from natural sources or urban runoff
• Pesticides and herbicides from agricultural and residential applications
• Organic chemicals from industrial processes and petroleum production
• Radioactive contaminants occurring naturally or from energy production activities

Health Considerations
While regulations ensure safe drinking water, some individuals may be more vulnerable to contaminants. Immunocompromised persons, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, individuals with HIV/AIDS, some elderly, and infants may face greater infection risks. These individuals should seek medical advice about their water consumption.

Lead Information
Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead exposure may result from plumbing materials in your home. If concerned, you can minimize potential exposure by running water for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking, especially after water has been sitting for several hours.

Water Hardness
Many customers inquire about water hardness levels, particularly for appliance considerations. Water hardness varies seasonally depending on water source conditions.

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