Colorado Town Told to Completely Stop Using Water – Except for Drinking

Imagine being a Coloradan and told you can't shower, or do laundry "until further notice;" that's what's happening in Manitou Springs.

Emergency Water Restrictions Mandated for Manitou Springs

It's jarring, to say the least, to get word that an entire town has been told they can't use water for just about anything except for staying hydrated. According to the Denver Gazette, that's what Manitou Springs is facing.

Manitou Springs, known for its mineral springs, the Cog Railway, the Manitou Incline and its legendary Penny Arcade, has a problem with their water here in the middle of May 2025. According to the town's press release, there is a critical water shortage.

All non-drinking water use is prohibited. This includes indoor and outdoor uses such as dishwashing (except for sanitation), laundry, showers, irrigation, and commercial or industrial uses not essential to drinking.

Businesses are urgently asked to restrict water distribution and minimize all water use as soon as possible. The City is working to maintain a safe, minimal supply of drinking water and to prevent system failure during this emergency period.

What's the Issue With Manitou Springs' Water?

Apparently, there was a lot of runoff after a big snow storm on Pikes Peak, that runoff contained high levels of organic material and sediment, raising turbidity in the raw water entering the Manitou Springs Water Treatment Plant.

While the City’s treated water stored in finished water tanks currently meets all State of Colorado drinking water standards and remains safe to drink, the volume of available treated water is critically low, and further conservation is essential to ensure service continuity.

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According to the Denver Gazette, the town hopes to have the needed repairs to their backup pipeline finished by the end of of the week (May 16,) but it will also require 24-48 hours to be operational.