A May 7, 1999, Daily Sentinel headline, asked that very question. âPrior to 1984, âPersigoâ was known as Persigo Wash, a drainage ravine carrying drainage and spill water from the Government Highlight Canal to the Colorado River,â the accompanying story explained. âPersigo Wash still carries out this function. However, 1984 saw the completion of construction of a regional wastewater treatment plant on River Road, near 21½ Road, close to Persigo Wash,â the story said, adding that the treatment plant replaced the aging West Side Treatment Plant, which was considered state-of-the-art when it was built 50 years earlier. The first mention of âPersigoâ in the Grand Junction News archives is Jan. 16, 1892, in a story that detailed exciting plans for the new âtown of Persigo.â