4 days into a massive water leak in southern Colorado, officials are still struggling to return system to normal
March 17, 2026
It looked for a moment that a gushing water line in east Walsenburg was to blame for taps running dry, a disaster declaration, boil water advisory and a hectic weekend of water challenges.
But the water issues didn’t stop there.
Walsenburg, a city of about 3,000 people in Huerfano County, reported a water-line break around 2 a.m. Friday. Water pressure plummeted in households, leaving residents largely without water. Local schools closed, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife offered hot showers at nearby campsites.
The city was initially losing about 800 gallons per minute, but it rose to more than 2,000 gallons per minute by Monday afternoon, according to news reports. The water pressure seemed to be rising back to normal after crews worked to repair the leaking pipe, located in a field near East Seventh Street and South Madison Avenue. The line delivers water to a city wastewater treatment plant, Huerfano Correctional Facility and the city’s industrial park.