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The number of cities that are facing water contamination due to lead and other poisonous substances has been on the rise. Cities in Michigan and Oregon have warned their citizens to not drink the water that is being pumped into their homes. Hugo, Colo., is the newest city to warn their residents about the water, but it is not because of lead.
According to Hugo officials, this small town has THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, in their water supply. On Thursday, residents were warned not to drink, let their pets drink, bathe in, or cook with the tap water.
Multiple preliminary tests of the water came out positive for THC, but there has yet to be any reports of illness or “unexpected highs” due to drinking the water. More tests will be performed to verify both the possible presence and the level of contamination of THC.
“We are checking to make sure this isn’t because of the field test kit-- that it isn’t a false positive,” said Capt. Michael Yowell of Lincoln County Sheriff’s office.
Officials first became aware of the problem when a company used “fields tests” to check their employees for THC. The basic tests produced inconsistent results and it was decided to test the tap water. The test came back positive.
Lincoln County officials conducted 10 other field tests, using two different types of tests, and six of the results came back positive. Authorities later isolated the positive results to a single well.
When the well was investigated, officials found signs of forced entry into the well. It is not proven that this is linked to the possible THC contamination.
Pot is legal in Colorado, but Hugo, which is home to only about 720 people, does not have any marijuana growers or sellers because the county has banned production and retail.
Some have claimed it is impossible for THC to be found in the water, let alone a dangerous level of it. THC is relatively insoluble in water, and therefore would not mix with the water. Further, according to one county health officer, “It would take a more [processed marijuana] than any of us could afford to contaminate a city water supply to the extent that people would suffer any effect.”
Former mayor, Patsie Smith, jokingly told the Denver Post that she “might have to go drink some water” after the possible THC poisoning was announced. According to Smith, a friend of hers busted out a home drug testing kit after the news came out.
“She said the water is cleaner than she is,” Smith added.