Aurora – Lorna Tallman always knew something was wrong with the water in her office at the old Fitzsimons Army Hospital.
Water flowing from the tap in the 88-year-old building would be dirt-colored, have a funky smell and could foul even the strongest cup of coffee.
There was more than grit in the building’s water. There also were elevated levels of copper and lead.
A month ago, officials discovered traces of the metals in the water at 11 Fitzsimons campus buildings, including Building 500, the old hospital.
University of Colorado officials are continuing to test the area to find the source. Nineteen employees also have been screened for lead and copper poisoning.
None of the employees had elevated levels of metals in their systems, said Dr. Javier Waksman, professor of toxicology.
“Everyone was normal,” he said.
On Monday, university officials held a town hall-style meeting with about 50 employees to discuss the problem, answer questions and offer more health screenings.
Several pregnant women attended the discussion, asking probing questions about how long the lead had been in the water and why they weren’t notified sooner.
Waksman assured them that their fetuses weren’t harmed. And officials said that they told everyone as soon as they learned the buildings had problems.
Bottled water and water coolers also are being provided for the roughly 1,600 employees.
The tainted water was first discovered by the Veterans Administration, which tested the water in its Building 500 office on Sept. 22 after complaints of discolored water.
Tests showed lead levels of 80 parts per billion, well above the state and federal standard of 15 parts per billion. Copper levels also were above the 1300 parts per billion standard.
Additional tests by CU officials found elevated levels in the other buildings on the campus.
Officials say construction activity around the campus may have disrupted pipes and caused a contamination of lead and copper in the water.
On Monday, officials from the university and Aurora tested water that had been inactive in pipes over the weekend to get a “first draw” reading. Results will be available by next week, said Louis Mitchell, director of Environmental Health and Safety with the University of Colorado.
The university is offering more blood screenings for employees later this month.
“I know it’s not as big of a deal for an adult as it is for children, but I’m absolutely getting tested,” said Cheryl Hornbacker, who has worked in one of the affected buildings since June 2005.
Tallman said she also will get tested. “I’m a little scared,” she said. “We have a lot of people in our office who are concerned.”
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer can be reached at 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
