Denver Fest Aims To Involve Public In Water Issues
DENVER (AP) - As Colorado prepares for what's expected to be another dry summer, water organizations are planning a free festival in Denver to raise awareness about what it takes to get clean water to people worldwide.
The Denver-based nonprofit group Water For People is presenting the Festival for Water at Civic Center Park on June 9 in collaboration with sponsors, partners and the Denver-based American Water Works Association, whose annual conference kicks off that day in Denver.
Festival spokesman Aaron Carlson said the event, which is both a fundraiser and awareness builder, will feature bands including The Motet, plus food trucks. The idea is to get the public more involved in worldwide water challenges and not just draw the estimated 12,000 engineers, water providers, consultants and other water professionals attending the association's conference, Carlson said.
"It's important that people understand how lucky we are to turn on the faucet, and water magically comes out," Carlson said. "There are people in parts of the world who have limited access to clean water. There are organizations in Denver that are working on the problem."
Costs of the festival, estimated at about $80,000, are being covered by sponsors, including Molson Coors Brewing Co., for whom water is a key ingredient.
"Water supply is something you want to look at whether you're expanding or going to developed or developing markets," said Mike Glade, the brewer's senior director of water resources and real estate.
In Colorado, farms, ranches, cities, environmental interests and various businesses have competing interests for limited supplies of water. Coors Brewing Co. in the past has tussled in court with the city of Golden over water rights and with the state over a 2000 beer spill that killed thousands of fish in Clear Creek.
Glade said Molson Coors, which is working to reduce its water use and protect watersheds, believes in the importance of collaboration to address water issues.
"Reducing risk is a community effort. It can't really be done alone," Glade said.
LINK: Festival For Water
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