Denver, CO Water Company Workers Allege Asbestos Contamination at Foothills Water Treatment Facility

Former water company employees allege they buried asbestos contaminated wastes near a residential community near a Denver, CO water treatment facility. When crushed asbestos materials become airborne, all those who live or work in the area are at risk for exposure to the dangerous cancer-causing mineral.

If your family is facing a loved one’s diagnosis with mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis, please complete the form on this page for vital information from our attorneys about your legal rights.

On March 17, 2010, a Denver, CO area television station reported on allegations made by several retired employees of Denver Water regarding asbestos-laden hazardous waste buried at the Foothills Water Treatment facility approximately 20 years earlier.

The workers claim they were directed to bury asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and other hazardous wastes at the water treatment plant, which is located adjacent to homes and schools.  The workers stated they crushed asbestos piping, spread it out and covered the ACM debris with dirt.

As part of their investigation, the television station obtained a document from the Denver Water Board reflecting that the Board had spent over $576,000 for emergency cleanup of asbestos debris at the treatment plant. The asbestos abatement and remediation was characterized as being “very labor intensive” and to have taken approximately 8 weeks to complete.

Asbestos Exposure is Known to Cause Serious Illness
According to the news story, the men have been diagnosed with diseases they believe are related to their asbestos exposure.

Since the time between exposure to asbestos and when symptoms of disease are first discovered is many decades long (known as asbestos latency periods), their asbestos-related illnesses could have been caused by their exposure while performing improper asbestos disposal.

When asbestos fibers are inhaled, their sharp edges cause the microscopic fibers to attach to the lungs instead of being expelled by coughing or sneezing. Over this decades-long latency period, the asbestos causes the lungs to scar, resulting in serious diseases such as asbestosis, pleural plaques disease, emphysema and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).

In more serious cases, the asbestos scarred lungs will begin to produce abnormal cells, which reproduce and cluster into asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma cancer tumors.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we may be able to help you to seek justice for your illness and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Please complete the form on this page for a free and confidential review of your potential asbestos lawsuit or request a free copy of our asbestos sourcebook. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.