EPA: Fort Carson dumped 143,000 pounds of chemicals into Colorado waterways

News 5 Investigates: 143,000 pounds of chemicals from Fort Carson found in Colorado waterways
KOAA News
Eric Ross
July 2, 2014

Data obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency shows nearly 850,000 pounds of toxic chemicals ended up in Colorado rivers and streams in 2012.

News 5 uncovers one of the largest offenders is Fort Carson. Digging deeper, we learned the military post has a history of violations. Some violations were verbal or written warnings, while others resulted in hefty fines.

According to the EPA, 143,000 pounds of toxic chemicals from Fort Carson made their way into Clover Ditch which runs into Fountain Creek.

"We don't want any toxins in our water," El Paso County Commissioner Dennis Hisey said.

We brought our findings to Hisey, who just so happens to serve on the board for the Fountain Creek Watershed Flood Control and Greenway District.

"Regardless of whether it's in our stream or in our drinking cup, what we need to be concerned about is what's in the cup," Hisey said.
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