Colorado is getting a lot more serious about what comes out of mobile home park faucets.
On Tuesday, state lawmakers signed off on a bill that arms regulators with new power to force park owners to fix smelly, discolored or unsafe tap water. The measure broadens what counts as a reportable water quality problem to include everyday usability issues, like water that tastes awful, ruins laundry with discoloration or reeks when it comes out of the tap. Residents and advocates say that change could finally bring quicker relief for people who gave up trusting their water a long time ago.
What the bill changes
House Bill 26-1145 expands the Mobile Home Park Water Quality Program and authorizes the Water Quality Control Division to require remediation of “welfare-related” water problems, order additional testing and enforce resident-notification requirements. The bill makes clear that park owners cannot pass remediation costs on to residents and gives regulators the authority to issue cease-and-desist orders and impose civil penalties.
As laid out in the bill text on the Colorado General Assembly, those enforcement tools are central to the measure.
Lawmakers and advocates react
“No one should have brown or discolored water,” State Sen. Lisa Cutter said in support of the changes.
Alex Sanchez, president of Voces Unidas, told Denver7 the bill is “a great win” and said the ultimate goal is to get 100% of parks tested. Denver7's reporting also cites state data showing that roughly 9% of tested parks had water that was not safe to drink, and about 13% that met primary safety standards but failed secondary quality standards.
Testing found problems across parks
CDPHE says its Water Quality Control Division has visited more than 300 mobile home parks and is developing a four-year Mobile Home Park Water Quality Action Plan. A Senate Democrats release noted that, as of March 1, more than 600 community partners had taken part in testing at over 200 parks.
Those early results, including parks with health-based violations still under review, pushed sponsors to expand enforcement and clarify when owners must remediate problems, according to the Senate Democrats.
What's next and legal implications
HB26-1145 has cleared both chambers and is headed to the governor's desk. It takes effect 90 days after the General Assembly adjourns sine die and applies to acts or omissions committed after that date.
Once in force, the bill allows CDPHE to impose civil penalties and an additional monthly penalty for continuing violations. It specifies that owners may seek judicial review but are not entitled to an administrative hearing. Those enforcement tools, including orders for extra testing, required remediation plans and cease-and-desist authority, are detailed in the bill's fiscal note and text on the Colorado General Assembly website.
