The City of Manitou Springs has ordered residents and businesses to stop all water use, except for “essential drinking purposes,” due to a critical water shortage.
Officials say the city’s primary water source, French Creek, is experiencing high turbidity, meaning the water can’t be efficiently treated. The backup supply from the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project is currently unavailable due to emergency pipeline repairs.
That leaves only the city’s treated water reserves, which are critically low. As a result, all non-drinking water use—including bathing, laundry, dishwashing, and irrigation—is prohibited. Colorado Springs Utilities aims to repair the pipeline by the end of the week. Once finished, it could take 24 to 48 hours to restore access to the backup supply.
