Highlands Ranch, Colorado’s Home for
Water Softeners, Water Filters,
& Water Delivery

Yes. Highland Ranch’s drinking water meets federal and state drinking water standards. The city completes required testing for regulated contaminants, and results are reviewed to confirm compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

Yes. Highlands Ranch water is not softened and is considered moderately to very hard, which is common across much of Colorado. Hard water contains elevated levels of naturally occurring minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which can contribute to scale buildup on plumbing fixtures, appliances, and water heaters over time.

Recent sampling for Highlands Ranch water detected the presence of PFAS chemicals. The EPA is in the process of setting new maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), which range from 4 to 10 parts per trillion. In numbers, that would be 0.00000000004 for PFOA and PFOS, individually, to 0.0000000001 for PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (GenX Chemicals).

As shown in Highlands Ranch’s 2024 water quality report, several PFAS compounds were detected at low parts-per-trillion levels, including PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA, and PFOA. While current results remain below finalized regulatory limits, some detected levels exceed the EPA’s newly proposed long-term standards. Highlands Ranch Water continues expanded PFAS monitoring and is evaluating treatment strategies to ensure compliance with upcoming regulations. Click here to learn more about our whole house PFAS filtration systems.

Yes. Fluoride occurs naturally in Highlands Ranch’s water sources and is also adjusted during treatment to maintain levels that support dental health. Average fluoride levels remain well below the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of 4.0 ppm and meet all regulatory guidelines.

Highlands Ranch’s water supply comes from a combination of surface water and groundwater sources. Most of the system’s water originates from snowmelt that flows into the South Platte River, Plum Creek, and Dad Clark Gulch. This surface water is captured and stored in reservoirs including South Platte, McLellan, Tingle, and Chatfield.

In addition to surface water, Highlands Ranch supplements its supply with groundwater drawn from three deep bedrock aquifers — the Denver, Arapahoe, and Laramie Fox Hills aquifers — creating a conjunctive-use system that provides reliability during peak demand and drought conditions.

Highlands Ranch Water treats drinking water at the Joseph B. Blake Water Treatment Plant using a multi-step process designed to ensure safety and consistency. Treatment includes reservoir storage, pre-sedimentation to remove heavy particles, coagulation and flocculation to bind fine contaminants, filtration through layered media, and final disinfection using chloramine. After treatment, water is stored and distributed throughout the system.

While Highlands Ranch’s water meets all safety standards, many homeowners choose additional treatment to address hard water, scale buildup, chlorine taste, or emerging contaminants like PFAS. Water softeners can help protect plumbing and appliances, while whole-house filtration and reverse osmosis systems can improve drinking water taste, clarity, and overall quality.

Highlands Ranch Water operates an extensive water quality monitoring program that includes continuous testing at treatment facilities and throughout the distribution system. Thousands of samples are collected annually and analyzed at certified laboratories to ensure compliance with federal and state drinking water standards.

In 2024, Highlands Ranch Water reported a non-health-based violation related to the administration of its backflow prevention and cross-connection control program. This violation was procedural in nature and did not impact drinking water quality or safety. No contamination was detected, and no boil-water advisory was required. The district corrected internal procedures, improved compliance tracking, and fully resolved the issue as of May 2025. Additional routine monitoring for chlorine residuals, turbidity, lead, copper, PFAS, and microbial contaminants continues year-round to ensure safe drinking water.

You can access the most recent Highlands Ranch Tap Water Quality Report here.