New water tests find low or undetectable levels of chemical in Fountain, Security-Widefield area

A health official says follow-up tests on the distribution systems of three Colorado water utilities found either low or non-detectable levels of a potentially harmful chemical.

The results disclosed Friday were from utilities serving the city of Fountain and the community of Security Widefield. Both are south of Colorado Springs.

The tests were for compounds called PFOS and PFOA, which were widely used in nonstick cookware coatings, firefighting foam and other materials.

Ron Falco of the state health department says follow-up tests on two wells did show levels that exceeded the federal government’s suggested maximums, but those wells have not been in use for weeks.

Falco says tests on pipelines and water tanks used to distribute the water either found non-detectable levels or levels that were below the suggested limits.