Video Story
Watch VideoResidents in Pueblo County town ordered to boil water
Story By: David Ortiviz
Source: KOAA
About 200 residents in Rye are being ordered by the state health department to boil their tap water before using it. The Mayor of Rye, Tom Holgerson says he doesn't know yet how long this boil order will remain in effect.
Holgerson says there's too much dirt in the water right now, because of a heavy spring runoff. Holgerson says the city can no longer afford to filter it.
The boil order went into effect at 5 p.m. Sunday. Roughly 225 people live in Rye, which is located south of Pueblo, and west of I-25.
Holgerson was only available for a phone interview Sunday. But News First spoke with Gene Rahl who is a former mayor of Rye. "We'll probably get bottled water," said Rahl, talking about his own household.
Rahl says he doesn't think there's any reason for residents of Rye to panic. "We've had problems before with our water up here, and they haven't been serious problems," said Rahl.
This time there's too much dirt in the city's water supply.Holgerson says the city says can no longer afford the state mandated filtering system, which costs about $600 a day. So, that filtering system is scheduled to go offline.
In a notice sent to residents on Saturday the city says it does not know for how long the boil order will be in affect. One resident and restaurant owner heard it could be a while. "They said its going to be this way until the runoff is over," said Cat Irvine, owner of Rye Rendezvous. "I don't know what that means. I don't know if that means a week. Six weeks. If it takes that long its really going to be a hassle," she said.
Residents are being told to boil their water for 3 minutes, and then let it cool before using. "It makes it difficult, you can't add water out of anything to make soup, to wash your hands, you can't wash your vegetables in it," said Irvine.
Classes at Rye High and Rye Elementary will run on Monday as scheduled. Ed Smith, the district's assistant superintendent says bottled water has been brought in to both schools to give to students.
In its notice to the public, the City of Rye says there's an increased chance that the water may contain disease causing organisms which can cause symptoms like nausea, cramps, an diarrhea. The Pueblo City-County Health Department says so far, no illness related to this incident have been reported. Health workers plan to monitor the situation.
For more information contact the City of Rye at 719-489-2011. Residents may also want to call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
