Pueblo officials ask state for more time to figure out contamination issue

The city of Pueblo is asking the Water Quality Control Commission for more time to figure out how to reduce the amount of contaminants in its water.

The state and Environmental Protection Agency said Pueblo has a high level of contaminants in the Arkansas River that is affecting the environment.

Wastewater director Gene Michael is asking for 10 more years in order to put in a project that would separate the contaminants from the wastewater.

The project would cost $35 million.

Michael said figuring out this problem is not an easy solution.

“Now we are getting down to the much more difficult details, things can’t be easily treated and things that may not arise from human activity and figuring out how to control those in an optimal fashion,” he said.

The money from the project would come from the people in Pueblo.

The average water bill would go up two dollars starting next year.

The city will meet with the state on Monday.