Rocky Ford Says Municipal Drinking Water Remains Safe Following Arkansas River Sewage Spill
Description: Rocky Ford officials say municipal drinking water remains safe following the Arkansas River sewage spill, with enhanced weekly testing and monitoring continuing...
Published: 09/04/2026
Byline: SECO News
Rocky Ford Drinking Water Update
The City of Rocky Ford is aware of the significant untreated-sewage release into the Arkansas River near Pueblo and the public-health advisories concerning direct contact with river water downstream.
The state advisory includes the Rocky Ford area, and residents should continue to follow all guidance to avoid contact with the Arkansas River until officials lift the advisory.
My office has received numerous calls from concerned citizens, and I felt it was important to explain how Rocky Ford’s municipal drinking-water supply differs from water taken directly from the river.
Rocky Ford does not simply pump drinking water straight from the Arkansas River. Our municipal supply is produced from groundwater through alluvial wells. These wells draw water from the underground sands, gravels, and other natural materials within the Arkansas River valley aquifer.
As water moves through the ground, the surrounding earth acts as a natural filtration system. Layers of soil, sand, and gravel help remove and reduce suspended material and many contaminants before groundwater reaches the well system.
This subsurface movement is fundamentally different from using untreated surface water directly from the river. While groundwater protection is an important responsibility and natural filtration is not a substitute for proper utility treatment and monitoring, the alluvial aquifer provides an additional protective barrier between the river and our drinking-water wells.
Out of an abundance of caution, the City has performed voluntary water testing before and after treatment to verify that our drinking-water system has not been affected. The results confirm that Rocky Ford’s water remains safe and in compliance with strict, state-mandated drinking-water requirements.
We will continue enhanced weekly testing and monitoring so that all residents can have peace of mind about the quality of their municipal water. Protecting the health and safety of our citizens remains our highest priority.
For the latest information on river-contact advisories, residents should continue to follow notices from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Pueblo County health officials, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The spill involved approximately 4.25 million gallons of untreated sewage, and public agencies have advised people and animals to avoid contact with the affected reach of the Arkansas River.
Rick Long
Public Works Director
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