Did you know the pipes Denver Water uses in its drinking water pipe replacement programs are made from volatile chemicals?

The utility is using PVC pipes, which are a kind of plastic made with vinyl chloride and other toxic chemicals. Aside from introducing more plastic into our lives, if “vinyl chloride” sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the same chemical from that terrible train derailment in southeastern Ohio last year. Officials on the ground in East Palestine, Ohio were left with little choice but to conduct a vent-and-burn of the overturned rail cars carrying vinyl chloride, which spread “hazardous pollution” over 16 states.

Here’s some more information about vinyl chloride. It was classified a human carcinogen in 1974, and the federal government at that time banned the use of vinyl chloride in hair sprays, refrigerants, cosmetics and drugs. The National Cancer Institute has said the inhalation of vinyl chloride has been linked to liver cancer and other health problems.

And this is the chemical that goes into the pipes Denver Water chooses to use in our drinking water system?

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Because of its long and troubled history, vinyl chloride is also currently under review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) process, which does a deep, science-based analysis of a chemical to determine what kind of risk it poses to our health and the environment. The EPA does not undertake these reviews lightly. It is a multi-step process that can take several years and result in vinyl chloride ultimately being banned because of the high risk it poses to human health and the environment.

In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead pipes in drinking water systems. Denver, like so many other cities, had until that point installed miles and miles of lead pipes, but all someone has to do today is say the words, “Flint, Michigan” and we are immediately reminded of the very real dangers of lead in our drinking water and understand why utilities across the country are quickly working to remove those pipes.

During the last few years the federal government has made incredible investments into our nation’s infrastructure. When I learned the city of Denver received $76 million from the State Revolving Fund Program to help fund the 15-year pipe replacement program, I cheered. However, when I looked closely and learned that Denver Water is using plastic PVC pipes as the replacements, I stopped cheering and started worrying.

In 2018, California’s deadliest wildfire to date — the Camp Fire — destroyed the town of Paradise. The few residents who returned got a nasty shock when they learned their drinking water contained benzene, another known carcinogen. Independent research shows the likely culprit for how benzene got into the drinking water was from melted, plastic pipes and components that leeched dangerous chemicals.

Although the city of Denver may not face immediate risk of melted pipes from wildfires, it is still an issue that can happen in our state and is why we need to be wary of the kind of pipes we have. PVC pipes can also easily crack when water or soil freezes, leading to expensive repairs. How much of the massive investment from the federal government will be wasted when Denver Water has to go back and replace newly installed pipes because the plastic couldn’t hold up to our winter temperatures or is eventually found to have a connection to human health concerns?

The International Association of Fire Fighters and the United Association of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and HVAC Service Techs have called for a ban on plastic pipes. These are the people who work with and near pipes every day. They didn’t make that decision lightly, but in their minds, plastic pipes present such a hazard they want them banned in high-rise buildings and health care facilities, among other locations.

Denver Water is frighteningly out of touch with its decision to use PVC pipes in any way in the drinking water system, especially when the experts with the EPA are in the midst of a review on its long-term health implications. What if the EPA decides to ban vinyl chloride? What if cracked or broken pipes leech chemicals into our ground soil? Into our schools? Into our homes? The risks are too great, and I urge the utility to think long term about our health and our childrens’ health instead of just looking at the bottom line of a cheaper pipe.

Maya Wheeler is a longtime community activist and past chair of the African American Initiative of the Colorado Democratic Party and Past President of Colorado Black Women for Political Action.