The city of Fort Collins may not draw from its supply of Cache la Poudre River water this year because of contamination problems created by runoff from the High Park Fire.

"Because of water quality reasons ... we may not be able to use the water even when it's there," Brian Janonis, executive director of the city's utility, told the City Council this week.

The city draws about half of its water from the Poudre River, which filled with debris and soot following last year's devastating High Park Fire. Officials are concerned that rainstorms and snowmelt this spring and summer could wash more debris into the river, clogging infrastructure meant to carry water and harming water quality.

The city did not use water from the Poudre River for three months last year. How long it may avoid the water this year depends on the intensity of rain storms as well as the amount of snowpack in the South Platte River Basin and how quickly it melts, said Laurie D'Audney, the city's water conservation specialist.

"We really can't predict, which is part of the uncertainty that we're facing," she said.

Also facing a drought showing no signs of letting up, the city likely will enact Level 1 water restrictions