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PFAS mapping in Colorado: What the maps can
(and can’t) tell you

Colorado has published PFAS mapping and evaluation resources to help communities understand where PFAS has been found and where sampling has occurred. Maps can be useful context — but they’re not the same thing as testing your own well. This page explains how to use PFAS maps without overreacting (or ignoring them).

For the official map and evaluation information, start here:

This page is a plain-English guide to help you interpret what maps mean for a private well. It’s not a replacement for CDPHE.

Quick summary (60 seconds)

  • PFAS maps are best used for context: where sampling has happened and what’s been found in an area.

  • A map usually can’t tell you what’s in your well today — wells can vary dramatically even within the same neighborhood.

  • Use maps to decide whether testing is worth prioritizing, then rely on your own test results for decisions.

  • If PFAS is your concern, the most practical first step is usually protecting drinking and cooking water.

What PFAS maps are (plain English)

PFAS mapping is a way to organize and share sampling results from different projects so people can see patterns and understand where PFAS has been detected. It’s a helpful public tool — but it’s not a personalized water test.

Why maps can feel scary (and how to use them calmly)

Maps are visual, and visual tools can make risk feel more immediate than it is. The goal is to use the map as a starting point for good questions — not as a verdict.

What PFAS maps can (and can’t) tell you

What maps can tell you

  • Where sampling has occurred (and where it hasn’t)

  • Where PFAS has been detected in certain samples

  • Whether an area is being studied or evaluated

  • Helpful context for prioritizing questions and next steps

What maps can’t tell you

  • What’s in your specific private well right now

  • Whether your neighbor’s result matches yours

  • Whether a single detection automatically means you need whole-house treatment

  • How PFAS compares to the rest of your water chemistry (hardness, iron, sediment, etc.)

How to use PFAS maps the smart way (step-by-step)

  1. Use the map to understand whether your broader area has been sampled and what’s been found.

  2. Check whether the data reflects private wells, groundwater, surface water, or municipal sources (they’re not interchangeable).

  3. If the map raises questions, treat it as a reason to test — not a reason to panic.

  4. Make decisions based on your own results and your household priorities (drinking/cooking protection first is often the simplest start).

If you’re on a private well: the “surest answer” is still testing

A private well is a unique system. Depth, geology, nearby land use, and well construction can all affect results. If you want confidence, testing your own well is the most direct path.

Want help choosing your next step?

FAQ

If the map shows PFAS near me, does that mean my well has PFAS?

Not necessarily. It means PFAS has been detected in certain samples in the broader area (or that the area is being evaluated). The only way to know what’s in your well is to test your well.

If the map doesn’t show PFAS near me, am I in the clear?

Not always. It may mean your area hasn’t been sampled yet, or that results haven’t been reported in a way that shows up on the map. Use “no data” as a reason to stay curious, not a guarantee.

Do I need whole-house treatment if PFAS is detected?

Not always. Many households start by protecting drinking and cooking water first, then decide whether a broader system makes sense based on results, goals, and the rest of the water profile.

Official resources

Last reviewed: Sep 2026

Back to Colorado Well Water Updates (CDPHE priorities)

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