A failed Pueblo wastewater pipe spewed 4.25 million gallons of raw sewage directly into the Arkansas River, prompting state health warnings to farmers and recreators as far east as Las Animas to avoid using or coming into contact with stream water.
Department of Agriculture officials are working with the melon and other produce farmers that make up the core of the Lower Arkansas Valley economy to find alternative sources and test their water while dangerous bacteria washes through southeastern Colorado.
Pueblo utility officials said a sewage pipe that was repaired with concrete inside a stormwater discharge pipe burst under pressure Wednesday, and was discovered and shut down Thursday. But the millions of gallons of untreated sewage escaped into the stormwater pipe, which discharges into the Arkansas River east of Interstate 25.
“Discharges of raw sewage into waterways contain harmful bacteria that present risks to human health. Produce growers who fall under the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule must ensure any water they use before, during, or after harvest is of adequate quality,” the state health and agriculture departments warned.
Pueblo County health collected water samples downstream of the spill and those results were expected to begin coming in late Friday.
Lower Arkansas Valley water supply and water quality officials said they worry that the impacts of the sewage contamination could be exacerbated by the ongoing drought. When spills can’t be contained, “dilution is the solution” is a common public health mantra, but with extremely low water levels in many Colorado river systems, there are no surges of water for dilution.
The state agriculture department notified registered produce growers along the valley, and also warned the ranchers with property along the way who may use river water.
Pueblo’s Wastewater Department warned downstream communities to avoid water contact from the river through Aug. 31, including Avondale, Boone, Fowler, Manzanola, Rocky Ford, Swink, La Junta and Las Animas.
This story is developing and will be updated when new information is available.