INDIAN HILLS, Colo. — How long could you go without a steady supply of water? Residents in Indian Hills, a small community in the foothills, are finding out, now that they've been without clean drinking water for a week.
On Thursday, for the first time, crews with the Colorado Rural Water Association joined those in Indian Hills to search for the leak in the water system.
With no drinking water for seven days, many in the community have gone to the Indian Hills Water District office to fill up on water from a potable tank that's been set up outside. Debbie Pedotto and Barb Casanova have found camaraderie in commiserating at this water cooler.
"Well, I'm Zone 2, so this is the seventh day," Casanova said. "But my husband just texted me and supposedly we have it …but we still need drinking water."
"Gosh, I’ve been really fortunate to be in Zone 1," Pedotto said. "We just lost our water. We have no water as of this morning. However, we haven’t had any drinking water for the past week due to the nitrate levels."
RELATED: Water woes continue in Indian Hills
The water district set up a temporary water source for many residents, but it's high in nitrates. That means the water is not safe for infants, cannot be used for baby formula and is not safe for adults unless it's been boiled. It should be boiled for only 1 to 3 minutes, enough to kill off any bacteria. Experts say not to boil it any longer because that will condense the nitrates and make the water unsafe to drink.
Both Casanova and Pedotto are shocked that one week in, there's still no sign of the leak.
"I thought no later than Monday or Tuesday," Casanova said.
"I'm a little incredulous it's taken so long," Pedotto said.
Tracy Myers, with Foothill Water Services, said he's been out three times to top off the tank in the past few days. On Thursday, he refilled the tank again with about 600 to 700 gallons.
"I'm glad it's getting used," he said.
Until the leak is found, all the residents can do is keep trying to tough it out.
"We've been getting water from the gutters to do the toilets, but Debbie said she doesn't have gutters," Casanova said.
"Right, I just have big pails I'm filling up with snow and letting it melt and then you have to take all the debris out of it before you can put it in your toilet," Pedotto said.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS