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Denver workers say they were told to illegally dump asbestos
Workers for Denver Water have revealed that they were involved in an illegal asbestos dumping incident over two decades ago. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma later in life, as well as many other medical conditions. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects only a few thousand people in America each year. The cancer, which can lie dormant for decades, can cause a painful death. Once symptoms emerge, many patients perish within only a few months.
Several former employees of Denver Water say that the dumping took place at a lot on 12th and Sheridan 20 years ago. One of the men, Joseph Pacheco, says that he is still haunted by his actions. "I have to go to bed every night knowing what happened," he confessed to reporters. According to him, the water company prohibited the men from telling anyone about the incident.
"We were not able to speak about this to the public, to homeowners or to the news media," Pacheco said.
But now, the workers are breaking their silence because many of them have become ill from handling the asbestos and other toxic substances that were dumped at the site. "Everybody's been exposed to cement asbestos, radiation asphalt," says Pacheco.
"It's outrageous that our own water company was involved in dumping in clandestine dump sites," says Environmental Investigator Adrienne Anderson.
According to a spokesperson for Denver Water, the company, "along with many others, may in the past have disposed of solid waste in accordance with regulations current at the time. However, Denver Water did not own or operate or have any responsibility for the landfill. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) regulates asbestos. Although handling procedures and disposal methods have changed over time, Denver Water has always followed all applicable regulations regarding asbestos."