Seminole County leader Lockhart: Our water is safe to drink | Commentary - Orlando Sentinel

Seminole County leader Lockhart: Our water is safe to drink | Commentary

Seminole County, Florida’s Natural Choice. This is not only our county motto but also our identity. For generations, our commission has been dedicated to safeguarding the natural treasures that make our county special, from Wekiva River Basin to the 136 miles of trails to the nearly 75,000 acres of protected land within our rural boundary.

Our commitment extends to ensuring the availability of clean and safe drinking water.

Seminole County government supplies water to approximately 45,000 customers in the unincorporated area. Ensuring the health and well-being of our residents remains our top priority, and we assure you that the water provided by our utility complies with all regulatory guidelines and is safe to drink.

We take the trust bestowed upon us by our residents and businesses very seriously. We are committed to keeping them safe and informed.

I’d like to address various issues of concern that have been raised in a recent series of Orlando Sentinel articles.

Toxic Secret: The Sentinel’s four-part investigation of a toxic chemical found in three Seminole water utilities.

These articles highlight 1,4-dioxane, a man-made chemical identified as a contaminant of concern by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This chemical is found in many everyday products, from deodorants and cosmetics to detergents and shampoos. The federal government has yet to establish a maximum contaminant level for this unregulated chemical, prompting a handful of states, Florida being one of them, to set their own drinking water guidelines.

As a resident, you may be uncertain where the water flowing from your tap originates. There are more than 10 water utility providers located in Seminole County alone. And while the source of the 1,4-dioxane is not entirely known, utilities serving the northwest region of the County and operated by the cities of Lake Mary, Sanford, and unincorporated Seminole County government, appear to be the focus of the Sentinel articles.

Seminole County follows all regulatory agency guidance related to 1,4-dioxane. In 2013, one county water treatment plant registered a 1,4-dioxane reading of 0.58 parts per billion. This information was published in the county’s 2015 Annual Water Report, as required by regulators. The county later directed customers to the report via their utility bills.

Since April 2016, the county’s 1,4-dioxane levels have not exceeded Florida’s Health Advisory Level of 0.35 parts per billion. If this element surpasses the state’s threshold, customers would be promptly notified.

In the United States, a lack of federal regulation means it is up to the individual states to set enforceable standards. While it is my hope for the future that our water will be 100% free of 1,4-dioxane, Florida’s Health Advisory Level of 0.35 parts per billion is one of the lowest in the country. Based on the available data, less than half of our states have established health guidance related to this element, and many have set advisory levels that are 10-15 times higher than Florida’s recommended limit.

Editorial: Seminole residents should have known about ‘toxic secret’ in their water

I applaud the state for establishing such a low threshold for the presence of 1,4-dioxane in our drinking water. But this is a pervasive element that requires broad regulations to prevent the release of 1,4-dioxane into our environment from the onset.

At our upcoming meeting, I will ask the commission to approve a letter to Michael Regan, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, urging the EPA to take immediate action towards implementing comprehensive regulations on 1,4-dioxane to protect public health and the environment.

Your Board of County Commissioners is addressing the 1,4-dioxane situation comprehensively, transparently, and thoroughly with regulatory, legal, and scientific guidance. Seminole County government will continue to safeguard our community by remaining compliant with all regulatory agencies, regularly reviewing our internal practices, and employing new treatment technologies to continue to provide safe, clean water to our residents’ homes.

We invite you to participate in the upcoming Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 25, where we will discuss this issue. The meeting can be attended in person or streamed on seminolecountyfl.gov/sgtv, youtube.com/seminolecounty, or viewed on Spectrum channel 498. For private well owners, we recommend contacting the Florida Department of Health, the agency responsible for private well regulation, to discuss testing for potential groundwater contaminants (floridahealth.gov / 407-665-3611).

Amy Lockhart is the chairman of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners.