AURORA — Peter Binney, the director of Aurora Water, is resigning, leaving the city without its point man as construction continues on the $800 million Prairie Waters Project, a wastewater-recycling program he conceived and developed.
Binney is leaving to become global director for a sustainable-water planning company, he said.
He was hired by Aurora six years ago, just as the region was heading into severe drought conditions. He has been lauded for making the city’s water system nearly drought-resistant.
Those who know Binney say he almost single-handedly devised the plan for and implemented the Prairie Waters Project, knowing that communities would have to develop innovative ways of recycling used water instead of finding new sources, which are dwindling by the day.
Tops in his field
“Peter is one of the most-respected water engineers in Colorado if not the entire United States,” said City Councilman Larry Beer.
“Whenever someone with his skills leaves an organization, it leaves big shoes to fill. We’ll miss him.”
Binney announced his resignation Monday. The city will appoint an interim water director from within the department while it conducts a national search to replace Binney, City Manager Ron Miller said.
In recent months, Binney had come under fire from the council and mayor for a water-rate structure residents complained was unfair. It was a rate structure the council had approved. A more-balanced rate system has since been developed.
Binney said that was not a factor in his decision, but said he is battling cancer and that has made him rethink his priorities.
“I’ve been given an opportunity to live a little longer, so I want to think carefully on what I spend my time doing in areas where I can be productive,” Binney said.
Project on schedule
Despite his departure, city officials say the Prairie Waters Project will stay on budget and meet its December 2010 completion date.
Most of the land for the project has been acquired and most of the bonds sold.
And the biggest piece of the project — the water purification plant — is under construction.
“If he has to leave the project, now is probably not the worst time he could do it because the project is well underway,” Beer said.
Prairie Waters will draw South Platte River water downstream from the Denver Metro Wastewater Reclamation District’s plant.
The river water will be sent through sand and charcoal filters, treated with chemicals and zapped with ultraviolet light before it’s piped to consumers.
Aside from the water project, Binney was instrumental in the city’s efforts to secure new water sources, including the Arkansas River basin.
“Peter was very good at bringing a sense of immediate reality to Aurora and showing them that they needed to begin right now planning for the expansion of their water system,” said Denver Water Manager Chips Barry.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
