Town of Manzanola tests at safe levels after years of contaminated water

Since 2005, the small town of Manzanola has struggled to lower levels of uranium in its drinking water. The town is located about 45 miles east of Pueblo.

“The last couple of years, uranium started climbing because of the drought,” said Shirely Adams, mayor of Manzanola.

Although uranium is still present, it’s now considered to be at safe levels. Adams says that’s largely thanks to recent rain and snow melt.

“With all the snow and rain, it has improved the drought because the minerals have just become concentrated,” said Adams.

At its worst, uranium levels tested at 37 micro grams per liter, which exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended level of 30 or below. As of this month, levels had decreased to 20.

“I’m so happy because I hated drinking that water. It was just really not fresh tasting, just kind of nasty,” said Alyssa Chavez, Manzanola resident.

For a town fewer than 500 people, residents have had to watch their drinking water closely for years, but uranium hasn’t been the only problem.

“Before it was a radium problem and that has been going on for years through the deep wells because that’s the only source they had,” said Len Talkington, operator of Manzanola water system.

It’s also been a problem in surrounding rural towns.

“It’s not just a problem for the town of Manzonola, other water systems down the valley have especially radiant problems,” said Talkington.

In 2011, KRDO found widespread radiation in the groundwater east of Pueblo in the Lower Arkansas Valley. Since then many communities have safely lowered their radiation.

If you want to search your area for any violations in your water system, click here.