Chaffee, CO
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.
Environmental data for Chaffee in Colorado · Population: 19,876
SDWIS systems such as SALIDA CITY OF; BUENA VISTA TOWN OF; PONCHA SPRINGS TOWN OF; NPL sites such as Smeltertown Site anchor Chaffee, CO's EPA extract. Derived burden score 11/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
No TRI Form R facilities sit in Chaffee in this extract; water coverage still lists SALIDA CITY OF; BUENA VISTA TOWN OF; PONCHA SPRINGS TOWN OF. AQS monitors logged median AQI 51 / peak 112 in 2024.
Burden score 11/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Chaffee -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
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 | 74 (46%) | 82 | 5 | 112 |
| 2023 | 66 (40%) | 96 | 4 | 115 |
| 2022 | 98 (63%) | 57 | 1 | 119 |
| 2021 | 47 (42%) | 59 | 6 | 119 |
| 2020 | 37 (54%) | 29 | 3 | 101 |
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 (16)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| SALIDA CITY OF | 5,666 | 0 |
| BUENA VISTA TOWN OF | 3,776 | 0 |
| PONCHA SPRINGS TOWN OF | 2,118 | 4 |
| BUENA VISTA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY | 1,700 | 0 |
| GAME TRAIL ASSOCIATION INC | 480 | 0 |
| MESA ANTERO SUBD | 250 | 0 |
| TRAIL WEST ASSOC | 249 | 0 |
| CHATEAU CHAPARREL CG | 240 | 0 |
| PRINCETON ESTATES SUBD | 150 | 0 |
| MOUNTAIN VISTA VILLAGE | 100 | 0 |
| RIVER VILLAGE LLC | 90 | 0 |
| MT PRINCETON HOA | 79 | 0 |
| CASA DEL RIO SUBD | 73 | 0 |
| UTE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY WS | 69 | 0 |
| WESTWINDS WD | 63 | 0 |
| EASTSIDE MHP | 40 | 3 |
Superfund Sites (1)
| Site Name | Status | HRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| Smeltertown Site | Proposed NPL Site | 58.56 |
Cities in Chaffee (4)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Chaffee, Colorado? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Chaffee? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Chaffee? ▼
What is the air quality in Chaffee? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Chaffee? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Chaffee? ▼
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.