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Elbert County coordinates emergency water deliveries after Agate distribution lines freeze
Summary
Elbert County public health and emergency management responded to a freeze of the distribution line feeding Agate’s water tank; officials arranged potable-water deliveries, conservation notices and school-closure considerations while repairs continue.
Elbert County officials said Jan. 22 they were supporting the town of Agate after a frozen section of pipe cut off flow from a well to the community’s distribution tank, leaving residents dependent on the water remaining in the tank and on delivered potable water.
County emergency-management and public-health staff said Agate’s distribution line froze after an extended outage for valve repairs. As of the morning of Jan. 22, the tank still held about one day of water, county staff said, and the town had issued a water-conservation notice. Officials were arranging potable-water deliveries, coordinating with neighboring counties and water-distribution companies, and discussing school closure to reduce local water use.
Sarah McIntosh, acting public health director, told the board the county was working with Agate Water, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment staff, and neighboring jurisdictions to identify safe potable-water transport and replenishment options. She said Arrowhead Water Distribution Company and Fremont County emergency management had been contacted; Arrowhead was the only vendor found willing to bring a tank without insisting on supplying the water itself, and Fremont offered a 550-gallon tank as a short-term option.
The county also was seeking donations or emergency program support from local retailers and planned to use county Road and Bridge to purchase and deliver bottled water if donations did not materialize. Fire departments in the area were briefed and stood ready with tanker trucks for firefighting needs. Officials cautioned that getting potable water into Agate’s tank also required appropriate hose and pumping capacity (an estimated 50-foot hose) and coordination to avoid contamination.
Board members and staff said repairs could take several days because temperatures were not expected to stay above freezing until Friday; county staff said they would continue daily contact with Agate Water and notify the board of changes.
Ending: The board opened the Board of Health session immediately after the water briefing; county staff said they would continue coordinating deliveries and updates.
