by Colleen Sikora, originally posted on June 17, 2016

SECURITY-WIDEFIELD, Colo. – Several people have been stopping by a purified water station Friday, because of  the concerns about contaminated drinking water in Fountain, Security and Widefield.

Toni Fontaine lives in Widefield, and went to a water refill station Friday for the first time. She filled up two jugs of water for her family.

“I’m concerned because my daughter is pregnant,” said Fontaine.

Filling the two bottles cost $2.45. Toni thinks they’ll last her family just two days.

“I’m not liking the fact that I have to pay for it because I’m already paying for water I can’t even drink,” Fontaine said.

But it’s worth the cost for Fontaine.

“It says it’s purified drinking water, so that’s my peace of mind, knowing that there’s no contamination in it,” said Fontaine.

The question now is, how long will Security-Widefield residents have to wonder if their drinking water is safe?

“This could provide a solution to communities who are seeing questions about their water qualities,” said U.S. Senator Cory Gardner.

Gardner spoke at the Southern Delivery System Water Project today. The project is pumping 50 million gallons a day from Pueblo Reservoir into Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security, Pueblo and Pueblo West.

“Security for sure,” said Jerry Forte CEO of Colorado Springs Utilities.

Forte believes this water could help address water contamination concerns.

“Absolutely helps security in particular, this is surface water, it’s renewable water. It’s water they’ll be able to use that doesn’t come from groundwater supplies,” said Forte.

Nonetheless, paying twice for water doesn’t sit well with Fontaine.

“This is very upsetting,” said Fontaine. “But we have to, we have no choice.”