The town of Mancos is calling for bids on the Water System Improvements Project, which means construction could start this fall.
The project will bring in a new water storage tank, two new water pumps and new water lines to increase flow.
"We will be constructing a new water storage tank up on the hill next to the water treatment pant," said Andrea Phillips, Mancos town administrator.
The water tank will be constructed next to the current tank near the water treatment plant and will more than double the amount of treated drinking water the town can store, Phillips said.
Currently, the tank stores about 300,000 gallons of water. The new tank being proposed will be 430,000 gallons.
"On a hot summer day, we can use up to 400,000 gallons easily," Phillips said.
The improvements will hopefully keep Mancos from a repeat performance of this February, when Mancos had no drinking water for more than five days after a pump and its backup pump failed.
The project is expected to be paid by a USDA Rural Development Loan, Colorado Department of Local Affairs and local contributions, Phillips said.
Bids for the project are due back by the end of September, and Phillips is hoping that construction can start sometime this fall, before the weather gets bad.
As far as how long construction might take, Phillips said it depends on the weather.
"We are hoping to settle and begin working as soon as we can," Phillips said.
