Life in Mancos has been anything but routine since Saturday when pumps at the town’s water-treatment plant failed.
Residents within the town limits may be without water for the next 48 to 72 hours as crews work to restore it, said Andrea Phillips, town administrator, after a Town Hall meeting Sunday night. Rural Mancos’ water users are unaffected. The water dock is closed until potable water service is restored.
Schools were closed Monday. The Mancos clinic was closed Monday and today.
Other major water users, such as restaurants, were closed.
P&D Grocery is an exception. The store, a crossroads and gathering hub for the area, is trucking in water and is open for business. Water also is being delivered to the Valley Inn Nursing home.
Portable bathrooms are available at Boyle Park. Thirty portable potties were planned to be placed in the park Monday.
Crews linked a pipe from Jackson Lake to the storage tank Sunday in an attempt to bring in nonpotable water for toilets. But the pipe did not deliver sufficient amounts of water, according to one official. The crews are going to continue working on a solution.
In order to restore water completely, a new pump will have to delivered from California, said Robin Schmittel, director of the water department. The town has a backup pump, but the motor failed.
“That just happens sometimes,” Schmittel said. He added that the backup system is tested yearly.
Residents can get bottled water and fill up containers with drinking and cooking water at a tanker in front of Town Hall.
The town is limiting the supply to 5 gallons per person per day and three bottles per person per day.
Residents can get water in front of Town Hall from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Residents can flush toilets with nonpotable water.
After Sunday night’s Town Hall meeting, Phillips told residents, “We really appreciate your understanding and patience as we try to figure out what’s going on at the treatment plant.”
Crews worked late for the second night in a row Sunday to restore water, said Heather Alvarez, town clerk.
Cost estimates to the town for water, the water tanker and other emergency efforts are not yet available.
Residents are encouraged to check on friends and neighbors who don’t have access to information via the Web or those who may not be able to leave their homes to get water, Hollar said.
It is also important to turn off ice machines to prevent contamination by nonpotable water, said Karen Dickson, a public-health official.
Mancos residents are encouraged to call Town Hall for updates during the next few days.
Residents who may have trouble leaving their home are also encouraged to call Town Hall at 533-7725 for assistance.
Mancos Town Hall is seeking volunteers. Public officials also encourage everyone in Montezuma County to sign up for emergency updates at nixle.com.
All contact information provided is kept strictly confidential.
