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Montrose weighs multimillion-dollar water-treatment options after elevated manganese readings
Summary
City staff and presenters told a town-hall audience that an engineering estimate for a full treatment plant is $30 million, that grants are unlikely because manganese is not regulated, and that staff will return with more information in about six months.
City of Montrose staff and presenters reviewed options to address elevated manganese levels in the municipal water supply, presenting a $30 million engineering estimate for a full water-treatment facility and a lower-cost modular alternative under study.
Staff summarized the full-plant estimate and an illustrative repayment schedule, saying the engineering firm quoted a total cost of "$30,000,000." The presenter outlined historical testing that shows repeated measurements well above recommended guidance in some years and stressed the city is evaluating both centralized and point-of-use approaches.
The town-hall emphasized next steps rather than a decision: the presenter said the city will send water samples to a modular-system vendor and return to council in about six months with engineering feedback and cost details. "We'll come back with what we have in 6 months," the Presenter said during the meeting.
Why it matters: municipal leaders face a choice between a large, capital-intensive treatment plant and smaller modular systems that could reduce upfront costs but still require construction and ongoing operations. Staff warned that because manganese is not a regulated contaminant, typical grant programs are unlikely to cover the work, which affects financing options.
