<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4elirY_10vD99OV00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4elirY_10vD99OV00" width="1000" height="667" ><figcaption>(Shutterstock)</figcaption></figure>CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne residents can drink tap water with confidence as the city’s 2024 water quality report confirms it meets or surpasses all federal and local standards. The annual Consumer Confidence Report details the source and quality of Cheyenne’s water, highlighting no violations of drinking water regulations despite the detection of some common parameters.The CCR is a required yearly publication the BOPU issues each year based on water quality tests done under the Safe Drinking Water Act. It aims to help residents make informed decisions about their drinking water and understand any contaminants that may be present.Cheyenne’s drinking water is considered safe due to the teamwork of several agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service and Wyoming’s environmental offices. BOPU employees check the water system continuously, and Water Distribution crews ensure water quality while delivering it to homes and businesses, per the report.The city’s water supply comes from surface water sources, such as Douglas Creek and Crow Creek, as well as groundwater from four well fields west and northwest of Cheyenne. Surface water from the Douglas Creek Watershed is collected in Rob Roy Reservoir and delivered to Granite and Crystal Reservoirs. Water from the Crow Creek Watershed is stored in reservoirs like North Crow, Granite and Crystal and the South Crow Diversion Structure. Groundwater is pumped from the High Plains — Ogallala and White River — aquifers.The BOPU has examined the ratio of surface water to groundwater and can lower groundwater usage to 15% to manage local aquifers better. The report states that decreasing reservoir levels in the Colorado River system, which includes the Little Snake River used for trade water, could cut Cheyenne’s water supply by nearly half in the future if drought leads to critically low levels.In 2024, Cheyenne’s drinking water met federal standards. There were no violations of drinking water regulations, despite some parameters being detected in samples. Turbidity, which measures water clarity, was well below the standard, with all samples less than 0.062 NTU and 95% under 0.043 NTU, compared to the limit of 0.3 NTU.Detected contaminants included chlorine, used as a disinfectant to control microbial growth, as well as naturally occurring substances and byproducts of water treatment processes.Tests showed chlorine levels between 0.2 and 1.4 ppm, which is below the Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level of 4 ppm. Fluoride was found at 0.5 ppm in samples from the Round Top Storage Tank and Sherard Water Treatment Plant, also within the 4 ppm Maximum Contaminant Level. Nitrogen levels were 0.47 ppm at RTST and 0.32 ppm at SWTP, well below the 10 ppm limit. Several contaminants were tested but not found, including antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, selenium, thallium, asbestos, many semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds and pesticides/herbicides.The report touches on PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” that are found in many products, and high levels are known to affect health. In a national monitoring effort by the EPA, BOPU tested for 29 PFAS compounds three times in 2024 and found none. Lithium was found in one sample at 9.56 μg/L ppb.Another concern is the trichloroethylene contamination in some wells at the Borie Wellfield, originating from the Atlas “D” Missile Site. A groundwater treatment plant was built to remove TCE from the water. Water quality samples taken in 2024 showed no detectable TCE, indicating levels were below the reporting limit of 0.5 μg/L, lower than the maximum contaminant level of 5 μg/L.The report highlights that while the BOPU provides clean water, customers must also take steps to reduce potential lead exposure from their home plumbing. The EPA states that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Lead can enter water from old service lines and plumbing, particularly in homes built before 1960, as well as from lead solder and older brass fixtures. To reduce lead risk, the BOPU adjusts water pH and mixes treated surface water with groundwater. The utility also is working on a plan to identify and document all service lines, including specific inspections, to meet federal regulations.The BOPU checks lead levels in some older homes each year. In 2024, the highest sample showed 9.0 μg/L, which is below the EPA’s action level of 15 μg/L. However, five of the 62 samples from private homes exceeded that level. One sample from a vacant home being remodeled showed 27 μg/L.Customers can reduce lead exposure by using certified water filters, cleaning faucet aerators, drinking cold water, flushing pipes before use, being cautious of nearby construction and replacing lead-containing fixtures. Those worried about lead in drinking water can contact the BOPU for testing information.The BOPU focuses on sustainable water management in southeast Wyoming due to limited water resources. Its initiatives include a water conservation program with scheduled watering rules, leak detection support and billing structures to promote efficiency. It also runs the OUR Water program to provide customers with water-saving devices. The BOPU recycles wastewater for park and athletic field irrigation and returns the remainder to Crow Creek. In 2023, it built a hydroelectric facility generating electricity from water at the treatment plant, producing 300 to 815 kW in 2024, with surplus power sold to Black Hills Energy, per the report.The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report is available online at www.cheyennecity.org/ccr. Customers preferring a printed copy can request one by calling customer service at 307-637-6460. Questions about the report or concerning the BOPU should be directed to the water and wastewater quality control supervisor at 307-635-7693.The public is also welcome to attend BOPU board meetings, typically held at 3 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at 2416 Snyder Ave. in Cheyenne.</div></body>

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne residents can drink tap water with confidence as the city’s 2024 water quality report confirms it meets or surpasses all federal and local standards. The annual Consumer Confidence Report details the source and quality of Cheyenne’s water, highlighting no violations of drinking water regulations despite the detection of some common parameters.

Report: Cheyenne drinking water meets, exceeds quality standards

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne residents can drink tap water with confidence as the city’s 2024 water quality report confirms it meets or surpasses all federal 

Report: Cheyenne drinking water meets, exceeds quality standards

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