Risky lead levels in water in Arapahoe and Adams Counties, says report

A new report found that some metro Denver residents were among the over 18 million Americans were at risk of drinking lead-contaminated water last year.

Megan Arellano

Jun. 29, 2016, 12:03 p.m.

Lead-contaminated water isn’t just something that happens in Flint. A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council found that over 18 million Americans were at risk of drinking lead-contaminated water last year.

And some of them lived in metro Denver.

Arapahoe County served 31,000 people and had an average action level excess of 17 parts per billion. The EPA’s trigger level for addressing lead in drinking water is 15 ppb.

But that’s only to advise of a potential risk and to suggest reducing exposures.

Adams County served 275 people and also had an average action level in excess of 17 parts per billion. Denver county didn’t trigger any lead action alerts.

But don’t feel too high and mighty over that. Elsewhere in the city, Denver-area contractors settled with the EPA over allegations that they violated lead-based paint rules.

All of the 3,124 wrecks that took place on Denver streets with speed limits 25 miles per hour or lower in 2021, outside of downtown. There were 329 more in the Central Business District and Union Station neighborhoods that year.

Denverite Maps

So how many traffic “accidents” occured on Denver’s neighborhood streets in 2021? This many

Numbers show it's low-key scary to drive, ride or walk in Denver.

Charlie Fleming, AKA Diamond Starr, helps Aeshleigh Sheren learn their way around a wig during Fleming's Drag Teen-Tween Fashion class held in Stanley Marketplace's Factory Fashion. Jan. 13, 2022.

A new drag program at Stanley Marketplace for teens and tweens gives young people a fun, safe space for self expression

“Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of bigotry in this world, and there’s still a lot of kids who are disowned and hurt. Having a safe space to be yourself is just so important.”

Law enforcement officers on Broadway near 1st Avenue in Denver on December 28, 2021, near Sol Tribe Custom Tattoo and Body Piercing, owned by tattoo artist and muralist Alicia Cardenas.

Lawmakers want feds to probe how Denver police handled gunman’s past. Records show he had encounters with police for years.

Records show police were called to the gunman's home several times from 2012 to 2016, including multiple calls for domestic violence incidents.

Denver is cold and grey on Jan. 14, 2022. Seen from Ruby Hill.

Denver weather: Snow is rolling in today, y’all

We'll see trace amounts up to an inch, maybe.

A stage coach makes the rounds during the "Colorado vs the World" rodeo qualifying event at the National Western Stock Show, Jan. 11, 2020. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Things to do in Denver this weekend, Jan. 14-16

The National Western Stock Show is back!

King Soopers workers went on strike Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.

Did you get a King Soopers pharmacy text about limited hours? Here’s what we know.

King Soopers workers began their strike on Wednesday.

A fence surrounding 2650 Arkins Ct. with a sign on its proposed rezoning on Monday, May 24, in the Five Points neighborhood. (Esteban L. Hernandez/Denverite)

Denver is considering rewriting its rezoning rules to incorporate ‘equity.’ Here’s what that means.

For starters, 90% of new developments won’t be affected by this at all.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marade, Jan. 15, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

mlk; martin luther king jr; marade; parade; march; colfax; denver; colorado; denverite; protest;

The 2022 Marade is happening in person

Here's how you can participate.

A modular ADU and garage installed behind Simple Homes co-founder and COO David Schultz, July 9, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Can you use your ADU as a short-term rental? Yes, and that’s sort of the point.

But only about 16% of ADUs are being used as short-term rentals.

Armando Saldate in his office in Denver's public safety headquarters at Cherokee Street and 13th Avenue. Jan. 11 2022.

Denver’s potential public safety executive director vows to work more closely with criminal justice advocates

Armando Saldate said addressing staffing shortages across public safety agencies and homelessness are among his top priorities.

Chris Arceo protests with his King Soopers colleagues outside of the Sheridan Boulevard and Florida Avenue location in Denver's Mar Lee neighborhood. Jan. 12, 2022.

These 14 Denver King Soopers stores are striking. Here’s what we saw on the frontlines.

“I think a company as big as King Soopers can pay these people what they want.”

Harley the horse walks on an aquatic treadmill for physical therapy inside Colorado State University's new Spur Campus at the National Western Center in Elyria Swansea. Jan. 11, 2022.

Globeville and Elyria-Swansea residents are burnt out on projects they say don’t benefit them. But there is hope for CSU’s Spur campus.

“I think this is a game-changer for the neighborhood."

A courtroom sketch from a Feb. 1908 edition of the Rocky Mountain News and a portrait of Giuseppe Alia from 1908.

DPL Archives

DPL Archive: The communion murder of 1908

“A moment after Father Leo placed the host on Alia’s tongue, Alia pulled out a revolver. An altar boy called out to the priest, but in an instant, a bullet was fired into Father Heinrichs’ chest."

TSA's security check at Denver International Airport on a very snowy day, Oct. 29, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Denver lawmakers okay forking over $1.1 billion to complete the Great Hall Project at DIA

The money was approved through four different contracts for the project, which has faced delays.

Chy Reco takes a selfie with three of his children on a trip to Chicago.

How three single parents have rearranged their lives in case schools go to remote learning again

Here's what they want to see happen in Denver area schools.

‘The Mother of Israel’ Golda Meir’s Denver home is rededicated as a museum

Meir, a founding mother of Israel who signed that country’s Declaration of Independence and served as prime minister, spent her formative years in Denver.

Fangio (center) is introduced as head coach in 2019 with team president Joe Ellis (left) and general then-manager John Elway (right).

Fangio out as head coach, frustrations are a mile high for Broncos

This was the Bronco's fifth consecutive losing season, sixth without a playoff appearance, and Fangio's third year at the helm of a team who's brand is often lauded as one of the most popular in the NFL despite recent struggles.

Watch an operatic adaptation of The Shining at the hotel that inspired it

Come play with Opera Colorado.

Denver Fire Department crews on scene of a grass fire in the Lowry neighborhood on Dec. 5, 2021. (Courtesy of Denver Fire)

Neighborhoods in east and west Denver are susceptible to wildfires

But don't panic. Here's what that means.

Felix Merino walks eleven dogs at City Park. Jan. 4, 2022.

Things to do in Denver this weekend, Jan. 7-9

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