The US Environmental Protection Agency has conducted testing in the Lake Irwin area on domestic wells, surface water, ground water, and soils which revealed elevated levels of certain heavy metals including arsenic. The EPA testing in the study referenced below was limited to the Lake Irwin geographic area and does not include the Town of Crested Butte. Residents and property owners in the Lake Irwin area are receiving notices from Gunnison County that include guidance about how to test private wells. The County is recommending that residents in the Lake Irwin Townsite and the properties around Lake Irwin test their wells at this time for heavy metals.
The Town of Crested Butte has been notified of the Lake Irwin issue. The Town of Crested Butte regularly tests incoming water at its intake and heavy metal levels are well below the State of Colorado maximum contaminate level (MCL) for human health. Water is then treated at the Crested Butte treatment plant before distribution to end users.
Citizens can test their wells through a number of sources. Gunnison County recommends contacting the Colorado State University Extension to conduct a heavy metals test. The test costs approximately $240 and produces results within seven to ten days. For additional testing information please contact:
Eric McPhail
Colorado State University Extension
275 S. Spruce St.
Gunnison, CO 81230
970-641-1260
email: eric.mcphail@colostate.edu
web: www.gunnison.colostate.edu
For additional information on this issue please contact Carol Worrall at Gunnison County Public Health at 970-641-0209 or Russell Forrest, Gunnison County Asst. County Manager at 970-641-7929. Additional resources and updates about water quality issues in Gunnison County can be found at: http://gunnisoncounty.org/waterquality.