Advisory lifted for John Martin Reservoir after Pueblo sewage spill
Advisory lifted for John Martin Reservoir after Pueblo sewage spill
Colorado Leaders Address Arkansas River Sewage Spill
Leaders gathered at Pueblo’s Confluence Park on Sept. 2 to discuss next steps following a 4.2 million gallon raw sewage spill into the Arkansas River.
A water contact advisory for John Martin Reservoir sparked by Pueblo’s multi-million-gallon raw sewage spill has been lifted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The advisory was issued after approximately 4.2 million gallons of raw sewage spewed into the Arkansas River on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27 before being contained by operators.
City officials said in an Aug. 27 news release that a wastewater pipe inside a stormwater pipe had a hole cut in its top “many years ago,” which “was then patched with concrete.”
Pressure in the sanitary sewer pipe to keep bypass pumps running forced untreated wastewater through the hole and into the stormwater pipe that drains to the Arkansas River, according to the release.
The leak was stopped with a temporary repair, and crews were working to complete a permanent repair on Sept. 3.
State health officials said in a Sept. 4 news release that water quality sampling “consistently confirms that E. coli concentrations in the reservoir have returned to levels consistent with state recreational standards.”
“We initially issued the advisory to protect public health after a 4.2-million-gallon untreated sewage spill in Pueblo traveled downstream along the Arkansas River corridor,” CDPHE officials said in the release. “We will continue sampling the reservoir over the next several days and will inform the public if anything changes.”
Nicole Rowan, director of CDPHE’s Water Quality Control Division, said the agency’s priority in the aftermath of the sewage spill has been to “protect public health through rigorous science and rapid, transparent communication.”
“Thanks to coordinated sampling efforts with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and local partners, we have verified that E. coli levels at John Martin Reservoir are back within standard thresholds, allowing us to restore full recreational access,” she said.
Dan Kirmer, manager of John Martin Reservoir State Park, said multiple safe readings over several days gave state and local officials confidence that the advisory could be lifted.
“Testing will continue through the weekend and in the days ahead, and we will keep visitors informed,” Kirmer said.
While the advisory has been lifted for the reservoir, a water contact advisory remains in place for the Arkansas River from where Fountain Creek meets the Arkansas through La Junta, as E. coli results in those locations remain elevated.
CDPHE and Colorado Parks and Wildlife water resources staff plan to continue monitoring along the Arkansas River basin to ensure ongoing compliance with state water quality standards.
More on the sewage leak: Leaders discuss next steps after 4 million-gallon Pueblo sewage spill
Chieftain Editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@usatodayco.com or on X at @ZachHillstrom. Support local news; subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.