Boil order in effect north of Woodland Park

Tests taken at several homes north of Woodland Park found no contamination in water from the Teller County Water and Sanitation District, which found three dead rodents in its storage tank last week.

But a state-issued boil order is still in effect for the district, which serves about 250 homes in the Paint Pony neighborhood north of Woodland Park.

The district's water operator found three dead rodents, possibly mice, in the district's 80,000-gallon water storage tank late Friday, spokeswoman Debbie Stanford said. Officials contacted the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Monday, and the CDPHE issued the boil order Tuesday.

As of Wednesday evening the rodents were still inside the tank, Stanford said, with water from the tank still flowing to homes.

Tuesday's water tests, conducted by the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment, found no bacteria or other contamination.

Residents living at a couple of the tested houses had reported flu-like symptoms, Stanford said.

The district is working to hook up to Woodland Park's water system, and once that happens the district will isolate the storage tank and flush its pipes with heavily chlorinated Woodland Park water, Stanford said.

Officials will also hire a contractor to clean the tank and repair the underground breach where the rodents entered.

The state will likely lift the boil order next week, Stanford said.