Town’s water at ‘high’ tide

Residents of a small farming community in eastern Colorado have been warned to avoid drinking the town’s water after THC, the psychoactive agent in marijuana, was found in one of its feeder wells, authorities said yesterday.

A public works employee in Hugo, a town of about 800 people 145 kilometres southeast of Denver, detected the chemical and health officials believe it is ‘‘marijuana THC-related’’, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook posting.

‘‘At this time, investigators are assessing the situation with state and federal authorities,’’ the sheriff’s office said.

‘‘Bathroom usage is still safe, but until more information is known to us, out of an abundance of caution, avoid drinking Town of Hugo water.’’

Captain Michael Yowell of the sheriff’s office said there was evidence the well was tampered with, and the FBI and Colorado Bureau of Investigation have joined the probe.