Gary Atkin has penned a rebuttal to The Denver Post’s investigation of the ACWWA’s deal for South Platte water. From the article:
The contracts were discussed in ACWWA board meetings, which are open to the public, and the minutes are posted online. The “Water System Investment Fee” of $26.50 per month, first added to customer bills in 2010, was discussed in public meetings for months, and appears in the bond documents. ACWWA also had three open houses for citizens to discuss the project. The idea that this was sprung on customers is false.
The deal has all the elements to make it work: a sufficient quantity of long-term renewable water; the ability to collect and deliver treated, potable water to ACWWA; and the ability to negotiate a suitable price.
The transaction has all those elements, including water voluntarily sold by farmers being delivered to a well field near Brighton, being treated to drinking water standards and moved down a massive pipeline along E-470. The water will be integrated into ACWWA’s system.
More South Platte River basin coverage here.