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Council updates residents on water taste and seeks emergency aid after fire impacts
Summary
Staff told the Rangely Town Council the water is safe to drink but the taste and smell may persist for years after recent fire-related runoff; staff said they met with state and federal officials and are seeking an emergency declaration to access mitigation funds.
Staff reported operational impacts to multiple town utilities after recent fires and ash runoff and told the council the water remains safe to drink but may be less palatable for an extended period. "Where water is safe to drink, but, there's not a lot we can do about the smell," the staff member said during the meeting. The town has adjusted chlorine dosing at the water plant and is monitoring turbidity while awaiting rate-study numbers.
The town manager/staff said they attended a federal and state tour of the Berwyn area and are encouraging the governor to request an emergency declaration so federal funds could be made available for mitigation. Staff also outlined related needs: trenching and equipment such as a backhoe for future work and longer-term water monitoring. Council members asked for details about timing and potential assistance; staff said a public Facebook update was posted today with earlier information.
The council also approved a grant application to the Colorado Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise (NDME) to purchase and install a water-monitoring instrument (described at the meeting as a 'tribitameter') to provide better real-time data. That application was submitted as an available emergency-management opportunity.
