A small town in Colorado could be declared abandoned because its water system is on the brink of failure, after the mayor's resignation over bitter neighborhood feuds sparked the complete breakdown of the local government. 

Hartman, Colorado, which is home to approximately 30 residents, has been without a Board of Trustees since January, and its mayor quit in November, The Denver Post reported. 

While Prowers County oversees most of the town's functions, including law enforcement and road maintenance, Hartman is unique in having its own water system.

Without an operational government, the water tower has been neglected, and there is no one with the legal authority to pay for the repairs.

The water supply issues have existed for years, according to the Denver Post, and without a certified water operator to test the water supply, a boil order has been in effect since September.

Records obtained by the newspaper show that a 2025 inspection found bacteria common in animal waste in the water supply, and state officials hit the town with a $132,746 fine for a lengthy list of violations dating back years.

A 2020 state inspection found holes and corrosion in the tower's roof and ruled its condition as 'poor.' 

State officials also believe that groundwater is seeping into the town's well, and have repeatedly directed the town to replace the tank and regularly monitor it.

However, without a local government, there is no one to keep the pump running, and state officials believe the chlorine supply will run out before the power to the pump is cut off. 

Former Hartman Mayor Catherine Fernandez told the Denver Post she resigned in October because she could not take the feuding between neighbors. 

'You had families fighting with each other because they thought this person was going to do the town evil, they thought that person wasn't going to work well with the town, and it was a complete mess,' Fernandez said. 

State officials sent a delegation to meet with locals in February to discuss the severity of the issue, but the town remained divided on what to do.

'We had a frank conversation about the realities and challenges they're facing. I don't believe they understood the severity, that they might run out of water,' said Maria De Cambra, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

State lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would make it easier for officials to declare a town abandoned.

The bipartisan bill would allow a county, landowner or registered elector in the town to apply for abandonment when a town has no board of trustees or clerk, is unable to hold an election, and operates critical infrastructure for delivering water to its residents.

Current law requires a town to wait five years before the secretary of state can deem it abandoned.

The proposed legislation would also provide $100,000 in grant funding to operate a town's water system while it is applying for abandonment. 

Kevin Bommer, the executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, told The Denver Post the bill could be a significant step to addressing Hartman's problems.

'This bill represents the best opportunity for the very serious drinking water system issues in Hartman to be resolved,' he said. 'But there's no guarantee that will happen.'

Governor Jared Polis even wrote a letter to Prowers County leaders telling them that this new bill would give them the authority over the water system, the newspaper reported.

'If Hartman's water system continues to operate and somebody does gain authority to oversee it, the state would be willing to work with the ultimate operator to identify funding, including potentially the grant funding previously allocated to Hartman but not yet spent, for much-needed repairs to their water infrastructure,' Polis wrote.