ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – You might be surprised to know how many unwanted chemicals are lurking in your drinking water.
The Environmental Protection Agency regulates how much and what types are allowed. Some of the chemicals they set standards for are commonly known as PFAS, manmade chemicals found in many products available in stores.
“PFAS exposure over a long period of time can cause cancer and other illnesses that decrease quality of life or result in death,” the EPA website reads.
In four years, the EPA will impose stricter rules on how much PFAS will be allowed in drinking water. On Tuesday evening, Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to hire engineering firm Tetra Tech to help lower PFAS levels at its water facilities.
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The county approved $4.5 million to make it happen. A review of its website revealed that two of the county’s facilities did not comply with the new standards.
The EPA limit for PFAS in drinking water is 4 parts per trillion. However, a PFAS test result chart shows that while many results are “not detected,” the Malcolm Road facility has a level of 4.7, and the County Road 535 facility shows a level of 5. Orange County is currently in compliance, but these levels are too high under the new rules.
Orange County Utilities declined an interview but provided a statement: “Orange County Utilities selected consultants for the design of water quality improvements for the CR 535 Water Supply Facility and, if monitoring confirms water quality improvements are necessary, for the Malcolm Road Water Supply Facility.”
Toxicology expert Dr. Alex LeBeau, an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida, noted that Orange County is not alone in addressing this issue.
“In Central Florida, some areas are more populated than others. The EPA typically classifies water systems by the number of people they serve. Sometimes, they may be rural or small water systems, so they have different requirements for those currently. Now that’s going to change as 2029 approaches. But when you’re talking about those smaller utilities, they may have certain districts that are set up where they only monitor certain different constituents,” he told News 6.
