Alamosa City Council on first reading approved an ordinance that would prohibit the use and installation of graywater treatment systems within city limits, setting a public hearing for 7 p.m. Dec. 17, 2025.

City public works staff told the council the state law shifted effective Jan. 1, 2026, so graywater would be permitted by default unless a municipality enacts a prohibition. A staff presenter described graywater as “the portion of wastewater that’s collected from bathrooms, laundry rooms, bathtubs” and said the city lacks the expertise and enforcement capacity to regulate and monitor those systems safely.

Councilor Carson voiced strong opposition to an outright ban and urged the council to consider permitting approaches with safeguards and homeowner waivers so residents could pursue water-conservation options. “I don’t see why we wouldn’t try to figure this out,” Carson said, proposing a waiver or expert-installation requirement.

Other council members and staff emphasized the city’s limited technical capacity and the need for clear regulatory and monitoring frameworks. Councilor Hampton moved to approve Ordinance No. 26-2025 on first reading and to set a public hearing for Dec. 17, 2025, at 7 p.m.; Councilor Krebs seconded. The motion carried 6–1, with Councilor Carson the lone no vote.

The ordinance, as discussed, would keep the city on the current status quo by prohibiting graywater systems until the city develops regulatory capacity or the council chooses to revisit the issue. Staff noted Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulations are evolving and that future changes at the state level could affect local implementation.

The council did not adopt the ordinance on final reading tonight; staff will publish the ordinance text and hold the Dec. 17 public hearing before a possible final vote.