A Monte Vista resident speaks about the dangers of chlorination during a public meeting on the matter.

MONTE VISTA — Approximately 50 people attended a recent community meeting on chlorination of city water — and to protest.

They attended to hear state officials explain why they are trying to force Monte Vista to chlorinate the water. Most of the residents who spoke during the lengthy meeting at Central Auditorium were opposed to chlorination.

The state of Colorado has already mandated chlorination and, in recent months, the City Council decided to fight that order.

Residents are concerned about the health effects of chlorination as revealed by research in recent years that correlates chlorine to cancer and other illnesses.

They also noted Monte Vista’s 60-year history of mostly good test results, as well as the cost and bad taste of chlorinated water.

A few residents wanted to go along with what the state mandates, but the majority had grave concerns about chlorination.

One man suggested another public meeting, without the state officials attending, so residents could work on solutions and decide where to proceed from this point.

You could almost hear the resolve leaving those in opposition, almost like a collective sigh, after City Manager Don Van Wormer stood up and said the state has already decided this.

He asked if the city wants to have a possible outbreak (of some water-borne illness) and have to face the financial consequences of that.

In Monte Vista’s history, that has not happened, however. The real power lies in the citizens’ decision whether to pursue a fight with the state to preserve the pristine water that the town has enjoyed for so many years, joining the few cities in the state who have avoided chlorination, or to acquiesce to the state mandate.

There have been comparatively few instances where test results were positive for coliform or other bacteria, in relation to the longevity of the water system here.

In those instances, the contamination was not at the wells, but after the water was carried through the aging pipeline system that the city is working to replace.

Aging sewer systems, as well as maintaining fresh water pipelines amidst freezing temperatures and the cost of winter’s toll on the system, have been the bane of city officials, especially in the last couple of years, as costs for snow removal and frozen water lines and meters have risen.