Chaffee County, CO

ZIP 81236

In ZIP 81236, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: River Village Llc has 1 contaminant at or over an EPA legal limit; 3 contaminants are above health goals, led by pfos at 4.4× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Smeltertown Site, 7.0 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Climax Molybdenum Co-Climax Mine (100%), mostly manganese compounds.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 4.0 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 2,945 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 81236

• Superfund sites nearbyC to D
• Factories and industrial sitesA
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityC to F
• Pesticide useC to F
• Neighborhood health statusC
• Past wildfire impactsA to C
• Past flood impactsA
• Noise levelsA
• Radiation signalsF

Based on 3 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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