Colorado Town Faces Abandonment as Water Crisis Follows Government Collapse
The small town of Hartman, Colorado, home to approximately 30 residents, is on the verge of being declared abandoned due to a critical water system failure. This dire situation stems from the complete breakdown of local government, triggered by the mayor's resignation over bitter neighborhood feuds.
Government Void Leaves Water System in Peril
Hartman has been without a Board of Trustees since January, and its mayor resigned in November, as reported by The Denver Post. While Prowers County oversees most municipal functions like law enforcement and road maintenance, Hartman uniquely operates its own water system. Without an operational government, the water tower has been neglected, with no one legally authorized to fund repairs.
The water supply issues have persisted for years. Since September, a boil order has been in effect due to the absence of a certified water operator to test the water. Records reveal that a 2025 inspection detected bacteria common in animal waste in the supply, leading to a $132,746 fine from state officials for numerous violations dating back years.
Infrastructure Decay and Community Division
A 2020 state inspection found holes and corrosion in the tower's roof, rating its condition as 'poor.' State officials suspect groundwater is seeping into the town's well and have repeatedly urged the town to replace the tank and conduct regular monitoring. However, without local governance, there is no one to maintain the pump, and officials fear the chlorine supply will deplete before the pump's power is cut off.
Former Mayor Catherine Fernandez resigned in October, citing unbearable feuding among neighbors. 'You had families fighting with each other because they thought this person was going to do the town evil, they thought that person wasn't going to work well with the town, and it was a complete mess,' Fernandez explained. In February, state officials met with locals to discuss the severity, but the town remained divided on solutions.
Maria De Cambra, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, noted, 'We had a frank conversation about the realities and challenges they're facing. I don't believe they understood the severity, that they might run out of water.'
Legislative Response to the Crisis
State lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill to streamline the process for declaring a town abandoned. The bill allows a county, landowner, or registered elector to apply for abandonment when a town lacks a board of trustees or clerk, cannot hold elections, and operates critical water infrastructure. Current law requires a five-year wait before the secretary of state can deem a town abandoned.
The proposed legislation includes $100,000 in grant funding to operate a town's water system during the abandonment application. Kevin Bommer, executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, stated, 'This bill represents the best opportunity for the very serious drinking water system issues in Hartman to be resolved. But there's no guarantee that will happen.'
Governor Jared Polis has written to Prowers County leaders, emphasizing that the bill would grant them authority over the water system. He expressed willingness to collaborate on funding for repairs, including unused grant funds previously allocated to Hartman.
As Hartman's water crisis deepens, the community's future hangs in the balance, highlighting the fragile interplay between local governance and essential infrastructure in small towns across America.
