Down in the Dumps Over Denver Water

Environmental Sins of Denver Water's Past Revealed by Former Workers

by Adrienne Anderson

Denver, CO: October 27, 2009

On Tuesday morning, October 27th, 2009, CO WATCH revealed information of significance to public health and the environment at a news conference held at 11th and Sheridan Blvd. in Denver.

The location is in the pathway of the West Corridor line of RTD's FastTracks project, now working on the east side of Sheridan Boulevard at 11th, in the Dry Creek Gulch area.

CO WATCH revealed disturbing facts about the vacant land on the east side of Sheridan where workers will be excavating as the transportation project progresses to that area.

What? It's a toxic dumpsite, used for years by Denver Water, which disposed of asbestos pipe and other toxic materials there for many years. Longtime Denver Water employees, now retired, gathered today to expose one of Denver Water's little-known dumpsites, which is adjacent to a residential neighborhood and drains to a gulch running with water. It also appears to be a source to contaminated groundwater documented in the area. CO WATCH obtained an environmental report under the Colorado Open Records Act which was commissioned by the RTD for all the areas that its West Corridor line would go through, including the area at Sheridan Boulevard and 11th Avenue.

Joseph Pacheco, a Denver Water retiree for more than two decades, is now a leader of CO WATCH. Pacheco led a tour of the area, pointing out places where asbestos pipe was buried, some visible in the creekbed itself. "We are coming forward so that workers who excavate in this are will be protected, unlike those of us who worked at Denver Water over decades, and for the protection of those who live in this area," said Pacheco.

Surrounded by numerous other former Denver Water workers, Joe Pacheco continued, "We are all now sick, we believe, as a result of our exposures to these chemicals and toxic substances over the years, and Denver Water's failure to provide us with proper protective equipment or clothing during the years we were ordered to dump here and other places around metro Denver." He also added, "We were threatened to keep quiet or risk losing our jobs if we talked to the public, or the media, about what we had been ordered to do, called "duties as assigned."

CO WATCH, a project of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center. The goals are to unite workers and community residents about toxic threats of common concern, and watchdogging local, state and federal agencies responsible for environmental and occupational health and safety, and the environment.

The former Denver Water workers who joined together today at the site represented nearly two centuries of service by the men to metro Denver's largest water utility. Pacheco and his former workmates are together coming forward to reveal events from the past on the land on the west side of Sheridan Boulevard at 11th Avenue, and including the Dry Gulch stream that cuts through the area.

Together, they also announced their support for a "Campaign to Clean Up Denver Water" with more revelations to be announced in the near future.

To be notified of further updates, e-mail CO_WATCH@earthlinknet