Chatham has closed car washes and laundries and is asking residents to conserve water because of a temporary problem at the town’s water treatment plant.
Public works director Bob Hanson said Friday afternoon that the problem was caused by extreme muddiness at Roaring Fork Lake.
Roaring Fork and Cherrystone lakes both feed into Cherrystone Creek, which supplies the town’s water.
The muddy water, caused by heavy rains earlier this week, is preventing Chatham from filtering enough water to replenish the town's water tanks, Hanson said.
“Right now the town is unable to treat water,” said the public works director. “We’re losing it as fast as we make it.”
Hanson said Chatham uses 350,000 to 400,000 gallons of water a day.