Adams, CO

High Risk (91/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against other tracked counties rather than against these fixed caps.

Environmental data for Adams in Colorado · Population: 524,408

TRI sites such as Clean Harbors Deer Trail Llc.; Suncor Energy Commerce City Refinery; Advancedpcb; SDWIS systems such as THORNTON CITY OF; BRIGHTON CITY OF; NORTHGLENN CITY OF; NPL sites such as Broderick Wood Products; Rocky Mountain Arsenal (USARMY); Sand Creek Industrial anchor Adams, CO's EPA extract. Derived burden score 91/100 (High Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

EPCRA disclosures in Adams total 7.2M lbs; health-flagged SDWIS rows include BRIGHTON CITY OF; NORTH WASHINGTON STREET WSD; STRASBURG WSD, while Clean Harbors Deer Trail Llc. leads TRI pounds. AQS median AQI 55 / peak 161 in 2024.

Largest TRI sites in the extract: Clean Harbors Deer Trail Llc.; Suncor Energy Commerce City Refinery; Advancedpcb. Named SDWIS systems: THORNTON CITY OF; BRIGHTON CITY OF; NORTHGLENN CITY OF. NPL sites on record: Broderick Wood Products; Rocky Mountain Arsenal (USARMY); Sand Creek Industrial. Burden score 91/100 (High Risk) is the only weighted composite here; tables reproduce EPA disclosure history, not a current-safety verdict.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Adams, CO: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

+6.0%

47 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+6.0%

1.8 million lb → 1.9 million lb, every facility that filed

Between the two reporting years, 0 facilities filed for the first time and 3 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • Adams, CO's total reported releases rose from 1.8 million lb in 2022 to 1.9 million lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Adams, CO's off-site transfers rose from 170.6 thousand lb in 2022 to 250.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Adams, CO's air releases fell from 258.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 222.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Adams, CO's water releases rose from 568 lb in 2022 to 630 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
524,408
TRI Facilities
50
Water Systems
34
Superfund Sites
4
Total Releases
7.2M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 147 (40%) 197 20 161
2023 179 (49%) 181 3 174
2022 180 (49%) 171 14 126
2021 188 (52%) 154 22 151
2020 192 (52%) 162 11 151
2024 Good Air Quality: 40% of days
Unhealthy days: 22
Median AQI: 55

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Colorado, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (34)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
THORNTON CITY OF 226,465 0
BRIGHTON CITY OF 56,304 6
NORTHGLENN CITY OF 48,927 0
CRESTVIEW WSD 23,756 0
NORTH WASHINGTON STREET WSD 14,500 1
FEDERAL HEIGHTS CITY OF 11,678 0
CHERRY CREEK VILLAGE WD 9,215 0
TODD CREEK VILLAGE MD 7,363 0
LOCHBUIE TOWN OF 6,518 0
BENNETT TOWN OF 4,400 0
NORTH PECOS WSD 2,500 0
STRASBURG WSD 2,050 3
WOODLAND HILLS MHC 1,740 0
FRONT RANGE 1,620 0
THE GROVE AT ALTA RIDGE 1,300 2
CASA ESTATES MHP 1,117 0
FRIENDLY VILLAGE OF THE ROCKIES 1,046 0
BYERS WSD 1,000 0
BELLEVIEW CHRISTIAN COLLEGE 460 2
HI LAND ACRES WSD 350 1
MOUNTAIN VIEW WUA 320 3
HAZELTINE HEIGHTS WATER 261 0
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO.-KEENE WATER 208 0
PLEASANT VIEW ESTATES 122 0
WILLOW BROOK METRO DISTRICT 120 0
SUBURBAN ESTATES MHP 115 0
COUNTRY GARDENS MHP 115 2
NORTH WASHINGTON WUA 90 8
THIRD CREEK WUA 90 0
TUCSON WC 90 0
HOPE DITCH CO 63 0
VALLEY VISTA ESTATES 51 0
ROLLING PLAINS ESTATE 40 10
G AND M MOBILE HOME PARK 30 3

TRI Facilities (50)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Clean Harbors Deer Trail Llc. 5.2M lbs
2 Suncor Energy Commerce City Refinery 460.2K lbs
3 Advancedpcb 364.8K lbs
4 Elkay Wood Products Co 284.6K lbs
5 Intertape Polymer Group Brighton Facility 214.3K lbs
6 Univar Solutions-Denver West 160.4K lbs
7 Wattenberg Gas Plant/ Anadarko Dj Gas Processing LLC 65.4K lbs
8 Colorado Paint Co 63.6K lbs
9 Sika Mbcc US LLC 56.6K lbs
10 Sashco Inc 53.2K lbs
11 Sashco Inc. 37.4K lbs
12 Azz Galvanizing -Denver 36.9K lbs
13 Veolia Es Technical Solutions LLC 26.9K lbs
14 Industrial Chemicals Corp 26.0K lbs
15 Thermo Fluids Denver 21.0K lbs
16 Phillips 66 Co Denver Terminal 18.8K lbs
17 Sinclair Denver Products Terminal 16.9K lbs
18 E J Painting & Fiberglass 16.8K lbs
19 Diversey Corp 15.6K lbs
20 Koppers Inc (denver Co) 5.0K lbs
21 Crystal Packaging Inc 4.5K lbs
22 B&b Blending LLC 4.5K lbs
23 Owens Corning Roofing & Asphalt LLC 2.9K lbs
24 Holcim Wcr Inc Denver Ready Mix Plant 2.1K lbs
25 Holcim Wcr Inc Sand Creek Ready Mix Plant 1.5K lbs
26 Holcim Wcr Inc Commerce City Ready Mix Plant 1.5K lbs
27 West Direct Oil #15 Hen 1.1K lbs
28 Wells Concrete (architectural Plant) 826 lbs
29 Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete. LLC - Chambers Ready Mix 577 lbs
30 Vance Brothers LLC 414 lbs
31 Zimmerman Metals Inc 194 lbs
32 Wells Concrete (structural Plant) 147 lbs
33 Ergon Asphalt Partners LP - Denver 105 lbs
34 Classic Metals 40 lbs
35 Atlas Roofing Corp 32 lbs
36 Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete LLC - Picadilly Ready Mix 31 lbs
37 Owens Corning Roofing & Asphalt LLC 31 lbs
38 Quikrete - Denver Co Plant 5 lbs
39 A R Wilfley & Sons Inc 4 lbs
40 Martin Marietta Gordon Asphalt 4 lbs
41 Westlake Royal Roofing - Denver 4 lbs
42 Martin Marietta - Monaghan Asphalt 1 lbs
43 Forterra Precast Concepts Inc. 1 lbs
44 Pavestone - Denver Co Plant 0 lbs
45 Brannan Sand & Gravel- Central Ready Mix 0 lbs
46 Ready Mixed Concrete Plant 11 0 lbs
47 Burnco Colorado LLC - Denver 0 lbs
48 Burnco Colorado LLC - Henderson 0 lbs
49 Ready Mixed Concrete Plant 12 0 lbs
50 Ready Mixed Concrete Co - Franklin Street Plant 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (4)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Broderick Wood Products NPL Site 35.13
Rocky Mountain Arsenal (USARMY) NPL Site 58.15
Sand Creek Industrial Deleted NPL Site 59.65
Woodbury Chemical Co. Deleted NPL Site 44.87

Cities in Adams (14)

Aurora
11 facilities · 14 water
Henderson
11 facilities · 2 water
Brighton
10 facilities · 7 water
Commerce City
8 facilities · 1 water
Thornton
1 facilities · 5 water
Deer Trail
1 facilities · 1 water
Northglenn
1 facilities · 1 water
Strasburg
0 facilities · 3 water
Westminster
0 facilities · 3 water
Bennett
0 facilities · 1 water
Byers
0 facilities · 1 water
Federal Heights
0 facilities · 1 water
Lochbuie
0 facilities · 1 water
Adams County
0 facilities · 0 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Adams, Colorado?
Adams, CO has an environmental risk score of 91/100 (High Risk), based on 50 TRI facilities, 4 Superfund sites, and 34 water systems on record. 11 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Adams?
Yes, Adams, CO has 4 Superfund sites on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Adams?
Adams, CO has 50 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 7.2M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Adams?
In 2024, Adams, CO recorded a median AQI of 55 and a peak AQI of 161. 40% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Adams?
Adams, CO has 34 EPA-regulated water systems. 11 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Adams?
Environmental compliance in Adams, Colorado is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Colorado state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro