Lower Ark Received Report on Arkansas River Sewage Spill
~Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D.
Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District came to order at 10:30 A.M. on September 16, 2026. A quorum was established. General Manager, Jack Goble, suggested an amendment to the agenda to allow Heather Young, Colorado Department of Public Health and Robert Sakata, Colorado Department of Agriculture, to present their reports via Zoom on the Arkansas River sewage spill due to time constraints on their participation in the Lower Ark meeting. This amendment to the agenda was approved.
Young provided an update on the Arkansas River sewage spill from the Water Quality Control Division. The incident was reported to the Incident Reporting Hotline on August 27, 2026. The incident occurred on August 26, 2026. Reporting is a requirement of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This results in a noncompliance notification. “The permittee shall report the following circumstances orally within twenty-four (24) hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances, and shall mail to the Division a written report containing the information requested in Part II.A.4(a) within five (5) working days after becoming aware of the following circumstances.”
The response to the spill was to immediately call the Pueblo Water Works, confirm the spill has stopped and there was downstream notification. There was an initial spillage site visit by inspection staff, followed by posting of signage on the river at points of access. Sampling was to be initiated by Pueblo Department of Public Health & Environment, Pueblo Water Works, and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). E. coli is recognized as the primary indicator of contamination, recognizing that raw sewage contains additional dangerous pathogens such as viruses and other pathogens that pose significant health hazards.
Sampling was transferred to a third-party contractor hired by Pueblo Wastewater, which was implemented on September 12, 2026. The CDPHE is overseeing the sampling locations and the results, which includes the river, canals and wells. Water E. Coli standards for swim beaches are at 235 colony forming units (cfu)/100 ml maximum for single test. If this standard is exceeded the swim beach is closed as the area is not safe for recreation (5 CCR 1003-5). Under Regulation 84 Reclaimed Water (5 CCR 1002-84) there are no river or lake E. coli standards to protect agricultural use. Regulation 84 allows treated domestic wastewater for crop irrigation. The E. Coli standard for agricultural irrigation use is 235 cfu/100 ml, single sample maximum for non-food crop irrigation and silviculture, commercial food crop growing and non-edible hemp irrigation. For non-commercial food crop growing, resident controlled food crop irrigation and edible hemp irrigation the standard is 126 cfu/100 ml, single sample maximum.
The CDPHE developed an interactive website: Wastewater Spill Arkansas River Dashboard that indicates E. coli test results along the river course. Points along the river can be accessed by clicking on the dots on the interactive map. Sampling data and updates are available on-line. There will be continued third-party sampling of the river, canals and wells. There will be continued review of the incident and an on-going investigation. The CDPHE is recommending a Notification System for the Lower Arkansas River with a call down system with stakeholder process.
Jack Goble asked if any wells showed indications of contamination. Young replied that only one well showed an elevated level, but the cause may not have had anything to do with the river spill. Otherwise, irrigators with sprinklers were not affected. Lydon Gill asked about the specific cause of the spill. The spill was caused by an older concrete patch repair breaking down on a 48-inch sanitary sewer pipe, which was under pressure during a bypass operation, this pipe was inside an older brick storm sewer pipe from the 1920s that drains into the Arkansas River.
Robert Sakata then joined the meeting, giving some encouraging words for mitigation. The lower Arkansas River area is hot and dry, these conditions afford conditions for the reduction of pathogens in the river and canals. The conditions of the spill are different from flood events and was an event that he never expected to witness.
After these reports were concluded, the board passed routine items for the Enterprise and the regular board. There were no committee or legal reports.
Under Board Action, the board approved the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement with the Southwest Pueblo Urban Renewal Project. They approved Resolution 2026-02-LAVWCD Vision and Water Principles which will be available on their website and will be included in their newsletter. The 2027 Budget will be voted on in December. Jack Goble announced the coming 2026 Lower Arkansas Valley Water Summit to be held at the Gobin Building, Rocky Ford, November 4, 2026 from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. Registration is now open, the Summit is free, but registration is required. The Board adjourned to executive session to discuss the Aurora Farm and other water purchases.
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