| 13. The use of recycled water in Denver parks is apparently causing the premature loss of many mature evergreens. How would you address the adverse effects of recycled water use on park trees? | |
| MAYORAL CANDIDATES | |
| Matt Brady | The recycled water is apparently not fully treated. This water needs more cleanup treatment by the Denver Wastewater facility which is supposed to clean wastewater so that it can be discharged into the Platte River. Instead, use more fresh water if further purification of wastewater cannot be obtained. |
| Jim Walsh | It’s important that our mature trees are preserved. We must figure out a system whereby the trees are not watered with the recycled water. I would consult with our irrigation and water experts to ensure that this change takes place. |
| Trinidad Rodriguez | I will direct the arborist to work with our parks department to ensure the right treatments are used to mitigate this impact. In the future, I will limit planting the affected cultivars. |
| Mike Johnston | As Mayor, I’d need to evaluate the data of this issue and identify where water is coming from and how we can protect our open spaces. I’d then work closely with environmental experts and experts on water supply to come up with a reasonable plan of action. I’d also take a more aggressive approach to preserving water by incentivizing turf and xeriscaping wherever possible, including in our parks. |
| Chris Hansen | As Mayor, I would adjust its use to save our trees. There are places where it works and places where it doesn’t. We can solve this problem. |
| Lisa Calderón | While using recycled water – as opposed to fresh water – is essential particularly given the dire situation of our local water supply, we need to find solutions that balance water availability and the health of park trees. Reclaimed water can have harmful effects on certain species of trees. Future planning, landscape designs, and master plans should consider this, and choose tree species that are more tolerant to the adverse effects of reclaimed water. If using alternative species is not feasible, changes to planting methods can help, such as planting in elevated sites, in over-excavated areas, or using higher quality trees For existing trees, practices can help mitigate the harmful effects, such as improved care of the tree through pruning and fertilization, improved drainage and aeration. We can also improve the quality of reclaimed water to prevent the problem in the first place. Better controls on harmful toxins allowed to be dumped in waterways, either from residential or commercial sources, can minimize the presence of toxins that harm park trees. |
| Kelly Brough | This is an issue with which I am not familiar. I’d need to learn more before commenting on an action plan. However, I have worked for many years on Colorado’s drought and am very sensitive to water use and conservation issues. Given that the Colorado River is the most distressed waterway in North America, I believe we need to be aggressive in our water conservation efforts and put all policies on the table. |
| Renate Behrens | plants should have clean water just like the humans. It does not have to be evergreens, fruit tree serve multiple purposes. |
| Deborah “Debbie” Ortega | Using Sloan’s Lake as an example, we should make sure that if we are using water from the lake to water the lawn (and trees), the lake water should be cleaned. This will also require cooperation with the adjacent Edgewater community, which has a tributary that feeds into Sloan’s Lake, to ensure that we have some kind of filtration system to keep the lake from ongoing impact to the water quality in the park. |
| PAUL NOEL FIORINO (write-in) | Clean water for our Citizens and our Trees will be a priority as it has with Fiorino for Denver and Colorado. Fracturing, wastewater, treatment, reuse and recycling water supply are ESSENTIAL for all, and some water is useless. Pollution control is a necessity now more than ever as we enter into a very important decision. Vote Fiorino for Denver Mayor WRITE IN FIORINO for a Mayor who has carried Water since 2006, in every campaign and has seen some movement. Conservation efforts and preservation of our Water is the most important issue we face among all others. Vota Fiorino write -in that name for Water. |
| Thomas Wolf | Confirm that this truly is the cause and if so, stop killing the trees. |
| Dr. Abass Yaya Bamba | My administration will look for advance technology and methodology to avoid the premature loss of many mature evergreens. |
| Terrance Roberts | This is something I have not heard of. First we should stop using recycled water on the trees it hurting, and if more emphasis needs to be added to preserving those particular trees then that’s what the Executive Director of Parks and Recreation should be focused on, not limiting park space at their personal discretion. |
| AUDITOR | |
| Timothy M. O’Brien | My team examined the governance of recycled water as part of our audit of the Denver Zoo Operations. We found the State of Colorado governs these regulations. The regulation establishes the requirements, prohibitions, standards, and concentration limits associated with the use of recycled water to protect public health and the environment while promoting the use of recycled water. Recycled water is increasingly viewed as an alternative source of water as it provides a dependable, locally controlled water supply and an alternative to diverting water from the environment and vital ecosystems that depend upon it. According to the most recent EPA Guidelines for Water Reuse, published in 2012, there are more than 400 approved sites that use recycled water in Colorado. As of 2012, Denver Water’s recycled water was used as cooling water for a large electric utility; irrigation of parks, golf courses, and schools; and operations at the Zoo. According to Denver Water representatives, their recycled water meets 1980’s drinking water standards. Moreover, the regulation at the time stipulated that there could be no public exposure to recycled water and only limited and controlled contact with recycled water by trained workers as part of the operations listed above. Said simply, the regulation imposed greater restrictions on the types of recycled water that could be used to wash vehicles than in Zoo operations—which might have exposed zoo animals to potentially harmful bacteria or other undesirable contents. Moreover, EPA reported that the most common uses for recycled water were for nonpotable purposes—agriculture, landscape, public parks, and golf course irrigation; cooling water for power plants and oil refineries; industrial process water for paper mills and carpet dyers; toilet flushing; and construction activities. While I have not specifically examined more recent use of recycled water in city parks, there is certainly room for debate about its use and its safety remains uncertain. |
| Erik Clarke | These are reasons a comprehensive climate change audit can have a big impact on our city. I’ll conduct Denver’s very first comprehensive climate change audit to address across the board issues. Thoughtful, targeted insights can lead to better overall results. |
