Union chutes water quality
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
Joined
·
499 Posts
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~23827~2280777,00.html
I found this quote concerning south platte water quality...
"The water quality is probably better now than it's ever been, even before the settlers," said Todd Harris, a water-quality specialist with the Metro Wastewater and Reclamation District.
I've been to confluence and while I do avoid going upside down, I don't think it's as bad as some people say, I for one have never gotten sick from the water there. :shock:
I found this quote concerning south platte water quality...
"The water quality is probably better now than it's ever been, even before the settlers," said Todd Harris, a water-quality specialist with the Metro Wastewater and Reclamation District.
I've been to confluence and while I do avoid going upside down, I don't think it's as bad as some people say, I for one have never gotten sick from the water there. :shock:
What do you mean "Don't drink the water?" Don't drink the water? Huh? I drink it every time I paddle at Union Chutes and Confluence.
In fact I heard the Starbucks at REI gets the water for its coffee straight out of the diversion structure on stream left. They woudn't use bad water.
Personally, I've been chuggin' this fine brew for years with no ill effects. I'll be down paddlin' tonight with any luck. Yup, paddlin' and sippin and playin' around, having a sweet old time.
Of course, I need to check my schedule. I think I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. No big deal. I just have to get these lesions removed from my back and find out why I get blurred vision and see if there is some reason I have blood in my urine, and get something to stop this trembling in my arms, and to see if my hair will ever grow in after the chemo is finished, and to burn off these little bumps that sprouted on my big toe, and to see if I really need both ears.
Otherwise, see you there!
dvc
In fact I heard the Starbucks at REI gets the water for its coffee straight out of the diversion structure on stream left. They woudn't use bad water.
Personally, I've been chuggin' this fine brew for years with no ill effects. I'll be down paddlin' tonight with any luck. Yup, paddlin' and sippin and playin' around, having a sweet old time.
Of course, I need to check my schedule. I think I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. No big deal. I just have to get these lesions removed from my back and find out why I get blurred vision and see if there is some reason I have blood in my urine, and get something to stop this trembling in my arms, and to see if my hair will ever grow in after the chemo is finished, and to burn off these little bumps that sprouted on my big toe, and to see if I really need both ears.
Otherwise, see you there!
dvc
Ok now... .lets actually look at the facts on water quality.
I have met several times over the past 5 months with Colorado Department of Health and Denver Dept of Health to increase monitoring and to get all facts of what is in the water.
The bubbles in the water and the metallic Platte River smell has also been raised by a group.
My goal is to rid of the idea that playing the Platte is bad for you. Have heard silly BS such at there is Hep A,B,C in the water.... etc....
BS!
Not there... there is a fecal ecoli #3 in which is not harmful to the human digestive system. It comes form animal waste and primarily comes from raccoons along Cherry Creek and runoff from dog parks. Sharps/Needles can be found along the river which can provide contamination to Hep, but the water itself, not at all. No Leptosporosis or other water bourne pathogens have been identified.
Most of the trash in the eddies originate from the homeless encampments under bridges between Union and Confluence.
The bubbles and smell of the river actually come from the Littleton/Englewood sewage treatment facility. It is practically drinkable at this point, but is bubbly and has that "earthy smell" .
These are things I am working to get everyone to start thinking about.
'Lurch' ------ I sure hope to see you out helping bring attention to how US boaters are involved with helping clean and protect our river. Not just talking bad shit about it.
The Denver Dept of Health will be starting to post everything that they test for on a weekly period, thanks to Jon Novick and CPDHE folks as well. We are also getting a movement forward with having parks and rec in partnership with CDPHE placing sharps boxes along the greenway in places closest to homeless populations. This can help curb some concerns with sharps on the beaches.
EVERYONE'S HELP IS NEEDED TO HELP PROMOTE RIVER AWARENESS AND EFFORTS TO CLEAN HER UP.
Anyone her ever paddled the 'Hooch in Atlanta, the Chute in South Bend, the Hudson..... makes the Platte look like a natural spring.
The Platte has some great whitewater and features to be played on and by getting out there and being seen, the City will follow through with making sire it is cleaning up it's act.
Greenprint Denver - Home is one site that shows their intent on the greenway and river initiatives.
DEH- Mayor's Water Quality Initiative
Denver Health had started to post water quality warning as to surface water being harmful to your health if swallowed.
We never know at any point if someone had a spill or other problem and is fearing litigious action if they do not waive that. It is primarily for concern of fecal coliform
I have met several times over the past 5 months with Colorado Department of Health and Denver Dept of Health to increase monitoring and to get all facts of what is in the water.
The bubbles in the water and the metallic Platte River smell has also been raised by a group.
My goal is to rid of the idea that playing the Platte is bad for you. Have heard silly BS such at there is Hep A,B,C in the water.... etc....
BS!
Not there... there is a fecal ecoli #3 in which is not harmful to the human digestive system. It comes form animal waste and primarily comes from raccoons along Cherry Creek and runoff from dog parks. Sharps/Needles can be found along the river which can provide contamination to Hep, but the water itself, not at all. No Leptosporosis or other water bourne pathogens have been identified.
Most of the trash in the eddies originate from the homeless encampments under bridges between Union and Confluence.
The bubbles and smell of the river actually come from the Littleton/Englewood sewage treatment facility. It is practically drinkable at this point, but is bubbly and has that "earthy smell" .
These are things I am working to get everyone to start thinking about.
'Lurch' ------ I sure hope to see you out helping bring attention to how US boaters are involved with helping clean and protect our river. Not just talking bad shit about it.
The Denver Dept of Health will be starting to post everything that they test for on a weekly period, thanks to Jon Novick and CPDHE folks as well. We are also getting a movement forward with having parks and rec in partnership with CDPHE placing sharps boxes along the greenway in places closest to homeless populations. This can help curb some concerns with sharps on the beaches.
EVERYONE'S HELP IS NEEDED TO HELP PROMOTE RIVER AWARENESS AND EFFORTS TO CLEAN HER UP.
Anyone her ever paddled the 'Hooch in Atlanta, the Chute in South Bend, the Hudson..... makes the Platte look like a natural spring.
The Platte has some great whitewater and features to be played on and by getting out there and being seen, the City will follow through with making sire it is cleaning up it's act.
Greenprint Denver - Home is one site that shows their intent on the greenway and river initiatives.
DEH- Mayor's Water Quality Initiative
Denver Health had started to post water quality warning as to surface water being harmful to your health if swallowed.
We never know at any point if someone had a spill or other problem and is fearing litigious action if they do not waive that. It is primarily for concern of fecal coliform
Joined
·
5 Posts
I don't know what you all are moaning about... Aside from Low water early season Confluenza, the water quality doesn't seem that bad especially for water running through an Urban corridor. Also it only seems to improve after the big Douches that seem to occur at least annually. And the Quality seems to get better as the number of hobo camp (shite) sites decreases upstream.
I boat confluence. I like it & am surprised more people don't get out there.
The waters not as cold as golden & the bottom hole is pretty good and less squirrelly than some of Goldens features.
Yea the water quality is not great, I wanna boat & it is convenient. No problem.
Play, creek or river run, whatever your flavor, get out & have fun.
Cliff
The waters not as cold as golden & the bottom hole is pretty good and less squirrelly than some of Goldens features.
Yea the water quality is not great, I wanna boat & it is convenient. No problem.
Play, creek or river run, whatever your flavor, get out & have fun.
Cliff
Joined
·
882 Posts
Ok we have this discussion every year. Yes, it smells bad and is not a pretty color. No, it won't give you awful diseases. Yes, a few boaters have reported that they got "real sick" afterwards. Most of those stories are urban legend as far as I'm concerned. I've boated there when the water is black and not gotten sick. I've accidentally drank it at other times. Never got sick. I used to think that it caused some sinus headaches that I'd get the next day, but have since learned that those are allergy-related. So please, let the Evian elitists do as they please and stay away. That's why the eddies are never crowded when Skatepark and Trestle are going off - the haters are waiting in line at Golden.
Joined
·
794 Posts
oh yeah, it's plenty healthy. that's why my wife has been sick since earth day! I know it's not THAT bad, but it's pretty nasty. I know it stinks, that's enough for me.
Joined
·
882 Posts
Joined
·
39 Posts
Don't forget about the intangibles in the water that are not going to be tested for: non-biological (ie. chemical) pollutants and biological (unknown/uncommon viruses for example) that may still be a risk to health. ANY time you expose yourself to human waste, even if it's been treated or diluted for levels of the "known" pathogens, you risk being exposed to those that science has not yet discovered. I'm betting that as the years go on, more and more cancers will be found to have a viral component to them (ie. cervical cancer and HPV). You may not get sick in the short term, but may be setting yourself up for problems later in life. That being said, if I had known trestle wave was going to be so good, I'd have been out there myself. Looks like it was worth the risk!
Brandon
Brandon
Joined
·
2,114 Posts
All the S. Platte water quality posts make me think kayakers are all a bunch of little bitches. If you're worried about getting cancer put on some non chemical sun block and stop eating microwave popcorn. Meanwhile there's some great surfing to be had at Union and Confluence so put on your ear and nose plugs, close your mouth when you flip and have fun.
(That said, I do believe I got an eye infection from that muck. Hopefully they don't later discover pink eye leads to eye cancer later in life).
(That said, I do believe I got an eye infection from that muck. Hopefully they don't later discover pink eye leads to eye cancer later in life).
Joined
·
255 Posts
kind of off topic here, but about a month ago, as i jumped out by the diversion structure next to the first drop, i was getting out of my boat to take some pics of my bro ian, what do i see at my feet but a used hypodermic needle!!!
nasty.
nasty.
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
Join the discussion
Join now to ask and comment!