Water Quality-City of Northglenn

Water Quality

The Water Quality Laboratory is charged with ensuring Northglenn's drinking water meets all federal and state regulations. The lab is responsible for water sampling, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting. Lab staff also responds to customer concerns and assists other departments with water quality analysis.
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Water Quality Partnerships

It takes more than a small city to plan and protect our water quality. Northglenn partners with Thornton and Westminster and other associations to ensure the highest water quality for a over 300,000 residents via shared storage at Standley Lake. This division's rigorous water quality monitoring program for the Clear Creek Watershed Foundation and the Big Dry Creek Watershed Association identifies pollutants and their potential impacts, while establishing guidelines for protecting our water source.

Federal and State legislation, rules and regulations define Northglenn’s source water protections, treatment processes, and discharge requirements. Through the participation with stakeholders, related associations, governmental and non-governmental agencies, Northglenn facilitates and implements policies involving current and future water quality regulations

Water Quality Special Projects – Wildfire Impact Study
In 2024, Northglenn begins its study on the potential impact of a grassland wildfire at or within proximity to Standley Lake and/or city limits. A grass fire at either location may affect raw water storage and pipeline delivery systems, the water treatment process including raw water storage at the Terminal Reservoir, drinking water storage tanks and distribution system.

The study will identify other raw water sources, mitigation efforts for water related infrastructure, outline alternate or augmented treatment methods to meet all state and federal drinking water regulations, and government permitting.

Locations
Water Treatment Facility
2350 West 112th Avenue
Northglenn, CO 80234

Wastewater Treatment Facility
5445 Weld County Road 2
Northglenn, CO 80603

Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

All Major Federal Observed Holidays

Frequently Asked Questions

Chlorine Taste and Odor

Chlorine, a disinfectant, is added to water in its final treatment stage to kill bacteria and viruses. This is the most efficient and cost-effective method available. The amount used is well below a level that would harm humans, but some people are more sensitive to the taste and odor of chlorine than others, and may find it objectionable. To minimize chlorine taste, keep a jug of water in your refrigerator for drinking. The colder the water, the less noticeable the taste and odor of chlorine.

Unpleasant Odors from Sink Drains

Sometimes unpleasant odors can rise from the sink drain in your kitchen or bathroom. This is usually caused by bacterial growth.

Suggestions to minimize these drain odors:

Put orange or lemon peels in your garbage disposal.
Pour water with some bleach down the drain.
Put baking soda in the drain, followed by a few cups of boiling water.
Pour hot vinegar down the drain, followed by cold water.
Repeat as needed.

Non-Localized Sewer Odor

Floor drains that don’t get much use, including showers and basement floor drains, have p-traps that are meant to stay wet to prevent sewer odors from entering your home. Pouring a glass of water down these drains on occasion helps to keep the odors at bay. See more about sewer odors.

White Color or White Particles in Water

White particles can sometimes appear in tap water. This seems to happen more often in winter when the drinking water is colder, but may also happen if you have an aerator attached to your faucet. There is no cause for alarm.

Tiny air bubbles in the water cause the milky or cloudy appearance. If the water is left to stand for a short while, the bubbles will rise to the surface and disappear. If the white color does not clear, you could have mineral buildup in your hot water heater. Try flushing or cleaning your hot water heater. If white particles float, you probably have a deteriorating dip tube in your hot water heater.

Rusty or Orange Colored Water

Rusty water is usually caused by high levels of iron and manganese. This commonly occurs after a fire hydrant has been opened. Sediment that has built up in the pipe becomes dislodged and flushed into the system. While it is not harmful, it may give the water a metallic taste and could discolor clothes run through the washing machine. The fastest way to clear your water pipes is to turn on all of the taps at the same time. In about 5 to 10 minutes, the water will run clear.

Also, water heaters may rust with age, so if your water heater is old and you notice a rusty color when you run hot water, it could be time to clean or replace your water heater. If you take a hot water sample and compare it to a cold one, can you see a difference in color? If the answer is yes, the most probable source is the hot water heater.

Black Color in Water

Black color can sometimes be seen in tap water and usually occurs when faucet washers disintegrate with age. The most common way to correct this issues it to replace the washers and O-rings inside your faucet fixtures.

Water Appears Muddy or Sandy

Tap water can sometimes appear "muddy" or "sandy.” Individual residents, but more commonly entire neighborhoods may be noticing the same problem. This can occur in your area when hydrants are flushed or when a water line is being repaired. To alleviate this issue, turn on all the taps in your home for 10 minutes to flush out the sandy appearance.

If fixtures are plugged, including toilets, with sand-like particles, the most probable source is an in-home water softener system. Zeolite, or resin beads, can escape from the water softener into the internal plumbing even if the softener is not in use. Proper maintenance should prevent this issue.