Click the link to read the article on The Cortez Journal website (Anna Watson). Here’s an excerpt:
November 2, 2026
Residents are being asked to conserve water because the flood levels have caused an increase in sediment levels. A town news release said residents are required to limit nonessential use to help maintain an adequate supply while treatment conditions improve. Goodall said there is no indication the town’s main drinking water supply has been contaminated, but he said officials must manage the high sediment levels, ensuring they build up a reserve of potable water. Goodall estimates residents will need to conserve water for one to two weeks or until the sediment dissipates…
He said officials were still assessing the damage of the wastewater treatment facility. In a post on Facebook, the town said floodwaters topped the wastewater treatment lagoons, causing water to overflow into and out of the ponds. The incident impacts the wastewater system, not the town’s infrastructure upstream that treats drinking water…“Our crews remain on the scene to manage the situation. Out of an abundance of caution and in compliance with safety protocols, we have already notified downstream partners, including the CDPHE, the Ute Tribe, and federal oversight agencies, to ensure a coordinated response,” the post read. Out of safety, the town asked that people avoid contact with the Mancos River downstream of Cottonwood Park.
