El Paso, CO

Moderate Risk (58/100)

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 El Paso in Colorado · Population: 736,008

TRI sites such as US Army Fort Carson (cantonment); Colorado Springs Utilities Ray Nixon Power Plant; Atmel Corp; SDWIS systems such as COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES; US DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FORT CARSON; CHEROKEE MD anchor El Paso, CO's EPA extract. Derived burden score 58/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in El Paso include WIDEFIELD WSD; WOODMOOR WSD; US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, while US Army Fort Carson (cantonment) leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 49 / peak 166 in 2024.

Burden score 58/100 (Moderate 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 El Paso -- 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.

Release-over-release change

What changed for El Paso, CO: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-3.9%

20 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+3.2%

648.0 thousand lb → 668.9 thousand lb, every facility that filed

These two measures point in opposite directions. Releases from the facilities present in both years fell, while the inventory-wide total rose. The difference is which facilities filed, not a different estimate of the same plants.

Between the two reporting years, 1 facility filed for the first time and 2 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • El Paso, CO's total reported releases fell from 647.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 622.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • El Paso, CO's off-site transfers fell from 32.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 10.5 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • El Paso, CO's water releases fell from 194.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 100.6 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • El Paso, CO's land releases rose from 353.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 445.5 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
736,008
TRI Facilities
25
Water Systems
65
Superfund Sites
0
Total Releases
4.2M 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 202 (55%) 150 12 166
2023 240 (66%) 123 1 154
2022 249 (68%) 114 2 115
2021 224 (61%) 113 28 140
2020 241 (66%) 118 6 151
2024 Good Air Quality: 55% of days
Unhealthy days: 14
Median AQI: 49

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 (65)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES 464,111 0
US DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FORT CARSON 48,000 0
CHEROKEE MD 29,610 0
WIDEFIELD WSD 27,640 3
FOUNTAIN CITY OF 25,130 0
SECURITY WATER DISTRICT 20,000 0
WOODMOOR WSD 18,031 2
US AIR FORCE ACADEMY 16,876 1
WOODMEN HILLS MD 13,888 0
MERIDIAN SERVICE MD 12,760 0
MANITOU SPRINGS CITY OF 6,938 5
STRATMOOR HILLS WSD 6,500 1
DONALA WSD 6,421 11
MONUMENT TOWN OF 5,740 22
TRIVIEW MD 5,737 0
PAINT BRUSH HILLS 4,994 0
COLORADO CENTRE MD 3,675 0
PALMER LAKE TOWN OF 2,686 0
FALCON AREA WATER AND WASTEWATER 1,926 0
WALDEN WSD 1,500 0
WIGWAM MUTUAL WC 1,300 0
FALCON HIGHLANDS MD 1,050 0
FOREST LAKES MD 1,049 0
PARK FOREST 930 1
GARDEN VALLEY 900 5
SAGE WUA 800 0
CALHAN TOWN OF 780 1
VALLEY MAINT CORP NO 1 470 5
HOLIDAY VILLAGE MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY 360 0
ARABIAN ACRES MD 325 2
SPRUCE HILL DEVELOPMENT 277 0
ELLICOTT UTILITIES COMPANY LLC 272 2
PALMER LAKE MOBILE HOME RANCH 268 38
SHANGRILA MHP 260 0
SLEEPY VALLEY COMMUNITY MHP 260 1
GRAND VIEW MHP 250 0
MONUMENT MEADOW VILLAGE MHP 250 2
MOUNTAINDALE CG AND CABINS 228 17
ROCK CREEK MESA 225 1
PRAIRIE ESTATES 220 0
RED ROCK VALLEY WD 200 24
GLENVIEW OWNERS ASSOC 195 0
GREEN ACRES MHP 170 0
WAGON WHEEL MHP 160 0
SUNSET HILLS MOBILE PARK 157 0
TURKEY CANON RANCH WD 138 10
SHADOW MOUNTAIN MOBILE HOME PARK 132 1
RIVERMAZE COOP MHP 128 1
PIONEER LOOKOUT WD 120 16
RIVERSIDE MHP, LLC 120 0
FIRST POINT MOBILE COURT 110 0
NEW DOVER ESTATES 100 0
GRANDVIEW MHP 90 2
PEAKS SHADOW LLC 67 2
CAMELOT PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC 60 0
ELEPHANT ROCK MHP 60 37
MOUNTAIN SHADOWS MHP 56 2
PEYTON PINES 56 2
OVERLOOK MUTUAL WC 50 0
MOOSE HAVEN CONDOS 48 1
SILVER BONNETT PARK 45 1
SADDLEHORN RANCH MD 39 0
SANCTUARY OF PEACE POA 20 0
FOUNTAIN VALLEY AUTHORITY 13 2
MID COLORADO INVESTMENT 0 0

TRI Facilities (25)

# Facility Total Releases
1 US Army Fort Carson (cantonment) 2.8M lbs
2 Colorado Springs Utilities Ray Nixon Power Plant 882.6K lbs
3 Atmel Corp 252.4K lbs
4 Colorado Springs Utilities Martin Drake Power Plant 103.3K lbs
5 Weatherford Artificial Lift Systems LLC 90.9K lbs
6 Electronics Metal Finishing Corp 18.8K lbs
7 US Dod Usaf Academy 13.9K lbs
8 Innovaflex 12.8K lbs
9 Sinton Dairy Foods Co LLC 11.1K lbs
10 Manstone LLC 7.1K lbs
11 Schlage Lock Co LLC 1.4K lbs
12 Holcim Wcr Inc Cs-North Ready Mix Plant 1.3K lbs
13 Holcim Wcr Inc Cs-East Ready Mix Plant 845 lbs
14 Holcim Wcr Inc Cs-Main Ready Mix Plant 660 lbs
15 Quantumclean Corp Colo Spgs 648 lbs
16 Martin Marietta - Capital Facility 6 lbs
17 Martin Marietta - Hwy 85 Facility 6 lbs
18 Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete LLC - Capital Ready Mix 0 lbs
19 Pavestone - Colorado Springs Co Plant 0 lbs
20 Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete LLC - Highway 85 Ready 0 lbs
21 Basalite Concrete Products Llc. 0 lbs
22 Burnco Colorado LLC - Colorado Springs (621) 0 lbs
23 Burnco Colorado LLC - Colorado Springs (620) 0 lbs
24 Frontgrade Colorado Springs LLC 0 lbs
25 Quality Concepts Manufacturing Inc 0 lbs

Cities in El Paso (11)

Colorado Springs
20 facilities · 40 water
Fountain
2 facilities · 3 water
Fort Carson
1 facilities · 1 water
U S A F Academy
1 facilities · 1 water
Security
1 facilities · 0 water
Monument
0 facilities · 6 water
Calhan
0 facilities · 4 water
Falcon
0 facilities · 3 water
Palmer Lake
0 facilities · 3 water
Peyton
0 facilities · 3 water
Manitou Springs
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in El Paso, Colorado?
El Paso, CO has an environmental risk score of 58/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 25 TRI facilities, 0 Superfund sites, and 65 water systems on record. 31 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in El Paso?
No Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites are currently registered in El Paso, CO in the EPA database.
How many toxic release facilities are in El Paso?
El Paso, CO has 25 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 4.2M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in El Paso?
In 2024, El Paso, CO recorded a median AQI of 49 and a peak AQI of 166. 55% 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 El Paso?
El Paso, CO has 65 EPA-regulated water systems. 31 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 El Paso?
Environmental compliance in El Paso, 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