Colorado has formally declared the small town of Hartman abandoned after its mayor and trustees resigned, leaving no functioning local government to run essential services. The decision matters because the town’s water system had deteriorated into a public-health concern, requiring state and county intervention to keep water available and safe for residents.

Hartman’s officials had been responsible for funding the water pump, testing and treatment, but their departure left the system without clear management. Under Colorado’s expedited abandonment law, Prowers County will take control of town property and the water infrastructure, while the state can provide up to $100,000 for temporary operation and maintenance; the town had reportedly been under a boil-water advisory since September 2025.