City of Durango resumes pumping Animas water into treatment facilities, allows for irrigation; NM can irrigate too

The city of Durango resumed pumping water from the Animas River into its treatment facilities Friday afternoon for the first time since the Gold King Mine spill occurred Aug. 5.

Residents and businesses in the city can begin outdoor irrigation and livestock watering once again.

A news release from the city said the decision was made after it received independent water quality test results, and two days after the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said the city could start treating water again to disperse to customers.

The city says that its city utilities department will continue to analyze water quality samples to ensure the water is in line with its drinking water supply protocols. Results of the testing will be posted here.

“A huge thank you to our community,” commented Mayor Dean Brookie. “We put out the call to discontinue outdoor irrigation and the community responded by reducing their usage by more than 2 million gallons a day in just 48 hours. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping to keep our drinking water safe.”

San Juan County also lifted its ban on drawing canal or Animas River water into ditches Friday.

“Today we are initiating a strategic plan for flushing ditches as a safety precaution prior to resuming irrigation,” said New Mexico State Engineer Tom Blaine. “As part of the Gold King Mine Spill’s Long Term Impact Team announced by Governor Susana Martinez this morning, our agencies are approaching this with the same synchronized communication, expertise, and caution used throughout our response.”

“We encourage San Juan County Ditch Superintendents to start flushing ditches immediately.  Flush from the diversion to the first sluice for 12 hours.  All head gates should be closed and only return gates should be open during this flushing operation,” said Blaine. “12 hours following flushing, normal irrigation and livestock watering operations may resume.” Revised safety precautions concerning the Gold King Mine Spill are posted atwww.NMEDRiverWaterSafety.org.

The canal operation will begin at the New Mexico state line along the Animas River down to where it meets with the San Juan River. It will include ditches below the San Juan River out to Hogback, according to San Juan County.

Originally published at KOB.com