Homeowners asked to scale back water use in Fountain

Contaminated water continues to cause issues in Fountain. Now, with warmer weather approaching, city leaders are asking thousands of people to reduce their outdoor water use.

Starting Thursday, customers with even-numbered homes should only water outdoors on even numbered calendar days. The same applies to odd numbered homes, which should water on odd numbered days.

“It certainly is very important that the community partner with us and we partner with our community,” Curtis Mitchell, Fountain Utilities Director said.

Water is already a resource that’s scarce for 80,000 people in the greater Fountain area. Their main water supply is contaminated with chemicals called “perfluorinated compounds,” or “PFC’s,” which are used in firefighting foam.

The water recommendations could be tightened later this summer, however, depending on resources.

That would mean mandatory restrictions, and potentially fines. If restrictions became mandatory, homeowners would receive a warning for the first violation, a $50 fine for the second, and $100 fine for the third.