Montrose officials weigh subsidized home water-treatment options, but say full solution will be long term

Committee member: City of Montrose participants discussed short- and long-term options to address household water-treatment needs, including contracting residential reverse-osmosis systems or offering a water credit for homeowners to install their own systems. A committee member framed the problem as complex and said a durable solution would be multi-year.

"have $30,000,000 to start," a committee member said when discussing possible funding levels for the initial phase of larger infrastructure work. Discussion centered on two approaches: (1) provide direct funds or credits so homeowners can obtain point-of-use RO systems, or (2) pursue a mass procurement contract with a vendor to install systems across many rooftops to secure lower pricing.

Participants debated implementation mechanics and oversight. One committee member asked whether the city would require RO systems in new builds; the response was that mandatory requirements were not currently in place. The meeting also explored a short-term mitigation approach while longer-term treatment solutions are developed. "We'd find a contract with one of them... we're doing a mass — we got 1,500 rooftops," one speaker said, noting scale as a lever to lower costs.

The discussion emphasized practical constraints: installations tied to addresses, homeowner acceptance, resale disclosure limitations, and the need for legal agreements. Officials repeatedly cautioned the group that while point-of-use systems could help individuals quickly, a comprehensive utility-scale treatment project would take years and substantial capital.