Steamboat Springs Residents Told Not To Use Water

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. Steamboat Springs was telling residents Wednesday in the west part of town to stop using all water because of a water main break during a construction project. People in the area were told not to flush their toilets or use water in any way.

The city was handing out bottled water and has erected 140 portable toilets.

"There is very little health risk involved at this point," Steamboat Springs City Manager Alan Lanning said. "We're still asking people not to use the water."

City Councilman Towny Anderson said the emergency "do not use" order could be in place through Thursday. The city wants to flush out its lines to make sure they are not contaminated.

More than 2,000 homes and 350 businesses were affected.

Robert Boggs said he didn't know about it till he read it in the paper.

"Naturally, I got up and took a shower, brushed my teeth and even drank some of it," Boggs said. "The city says I won't come down with anything."

A private contractor working at the library construction site was searching for the water main, with an excavator Tuesday afternoon and hit the main.

The main is fixed, but Lanning said residents need to be patient to make sure the water is clean.