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MONTE VISTA, Colo. (AP) — Two San Luis Valley towns face state orders to chlorinate their drinking water.

Monte Vista and Manassa operated for decades with disinfection waivers from the state health department, but the department withdrew the waivers after both towns submitted a series of positive tests for coliform bacteria stretching back to the first half of the decade.

Monte Vista has been chlorinating its water with a temporary treatment system since May while it weighs whether to appeal the chlorination order.

Ron Falco, safe drinking water program manager for the state health department, says Manassa was working on finding funding for chlorination equipment.

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