Mountain Mutual Water Company -- Water Source & Quality
MMWC's Water Source
MMWC obtains its water from
wells in
Gillette Flats that tap into the Gillette Flats alluvial aquifer.
The Gillette Flats aquifer lies in the West Beaver Creek valley, which is filled
with alluvial deposits -- including coarse sand, fine gravel, and redeposition
of Pikes Peak granite -- derived from stream and glacial erosion. The
aquifer is recharged by the West Fork of West Beaver Creek. The aquifer
is bounded by the
Trachyte Knob to the east, unweathered Pikes Peak granite below, and a
narrow valley constriction to the south, near Altman.
In 2004, the
Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment, Water Quality Control Division, prepared a "Source Water
Assessment Report" for Mountain Mutual Water Company. To access this
report, and reports for other Teller County water providers, click
here.
MMWC Water Testing
The alluvial deposits in the West Beaver
Creek valley do a fine job of filtering the water. Currently, there is no
need for MMWC to treat this groundwater.
MMWC routinely tests its water and
reports its results to the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment. MMWC tests for scores of
potential contaminants at the source, most on an annual basis, and a few on a
rotating once-every-three-year basis. MMWC also conducts bacteriological
testing on a monthly basis by rotating through five different locations along
MMWC's distribution system.
MMWC's testing shows that the water MMWC
obtains from its Gillette wells, and distributes through its transmission and
distribution lines, has no materially significant levels of lead or copper.
Furthermore, MMWC's distribution system is comprised almost entirely of plastic
pipes. It includes no lead pipes or lead solder. Nevertheless,
pursuant to government regulations, MMWC also conducts annual tests for lead and
copper at ten (10) different home sites -- many of which are fairly old homes.
Occasionally -- and especially if the home has been unoccupied, allowing water
to sit in the home's water distribution system for a long period of time --
MMWC's tests of these homes reveal slightly elevated levels of copper or lead.
This is due to leaching of lead and copper from copper and/or lead pipes and
lead solder in some members' homes. Nevertheless, MMWC is obligated to
report these test results in the annual Consumer Confidence Survey it sends to
its members.
Annual "Consumer Confidence Reports" (a.k.a. Annual Water Quality Reports)
In compliance with EPA regulations, MMWC
annually prepares a "Consumer Confidence Report" (CCR) for its customers.
For information and frequently asked questions concerning the contents of the
CCR, please see the EPA's CCR
website.
Below are copies of MMWC's CCRs for
recent years.
Other Links
Colorado Primary
Drinking Water Regulations.
Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Water Quality Management Plan.
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