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Everglades City to future moms: Don't drink the water

Everglades City to future moms: Don't drink the water

By Joselle Galis-Menendez (Contact)

Friday, July 21, 2006

Halfway through her midafternoon jog, Michelle Lancer poured out her bottle of ice-cold tap water, despite the suffocating July heat.

The Everglades City resident’s sacrificial spill came after a Daily News reporter showed her a notice from U.S. Water Services Corp., citing several counts of contamination to the local drinking water supply.

In 2004, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection declared that smaller water facilities had to lower the maximum contaminant level accepted for trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAA5s), two byproducts of the chlorine used to disinfect the water supply, according to Lisa Douglass, DEP district public outreach coordinator.

In Everglades City, TTHMs weigh in at 402 milligrams per liter versus the maximum level of 80 mg/l, according to U.S. Water Services Corp.

And the HAA5s count is 416 mg/l. It should be no higher than 60 mg/l.

The high stats result in several health risks listed on the notice, including one for women of childbearing age.

But other than stocking up on bottled water, what can residents do?

Nothing.

The city is awaiting the necessary permits to attack the problem at the source.

Because the two byproducts are the result of the chlorine used on the water supply, the city needs an alternative disinfecting process.

“We’re expecting an approval back from the DEP of the new treatment plan,” said Scott Lewis, director of operations for U.S. Water.

“We’ll have it done by the end of the year.”

Mayor Sammy Hamilton said he was reluctant to discuss the “situation,” but confirmed that the city has secured grant money to cover costs.

Everglades City is one of about 40 water systems from The Keys to Charlotte County that have violated the new DEP standards, according to James Oni, environmental manager for the DEP.

“The DEP made that standard apply to smaller systems and (those cities) are now forced, whether they have the money or not, to improve their systems,” Lewis said. “Everglades City’s been very proactive.”

Meanwhile, residents should heed health warnings from U.S. Water Services and DEP on the long-term health risks of contamination.

“Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids (HAA5s) in excess of the MCL (maximum contaminant level) over many years, may have an increased risk of getting cancer,” reads the U.S. Water Services notice.

TTHMs also are cited as increasing the risk of cancer, as well as possibly inducing liver, kidney and central nervous system trouble.

“It’s all very long-term. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you’d have to consume the water over basically a lifetime to have these issues,” Lewis said.

The warning, which calls for “women of childbearing age” to “seek alternative water sources” was particularly startling to Lancer, her eyes wide as she read the line aloud.

“Somebody did a study a long time ago and they felt that if you drink that water for 20 to 50 years it can cause a defect in women,” Oni said.

The risks listed on the notices depend on the severity of the contamination.

Oni said the warning to post-pubescent women is uncommon.

“So, everyone with their period has to drink Dasani?” Lancer said, wincing. “Great.”