Acreage water not tainted, DEP says (West Palm Beach, Seminole: lawyers, homes, organic)

[gregm]

Acreage water not tainted, DEP says

Local News: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Martin & St. Lucie Counties | The Palm Beach Post (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/10/01/1001acreagewater.html - broken link)

By MITRA MALEK

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, October 01, 2009

THE ACREAGE — The drinking water supply in this sprawling, semi-rural community shows no signs of being contaminated with industrial or agricultural pollution, according to a state environmental study inspired by concerns about a potential cancer cluster.

The state Department of Environmental Protection's findings don't settle the question of whether a cancer cluster exists in The Acreage - a subject that still remains under investigation by the state Department of Health.

Read the report (pdf)

Water in The Acreage

The state Department of Environmental Protection tested water from 50 private wells and other water sources in The Acreage in response to concerns about a suspected cancer cluster. After testing for dozens of pollutants, the DEP concluded:

# No evidence exists that agricultural or industrial pollution poses a danger to the water supply.

ZFour wells show higher-than-allowed levels of alpha particles or radium - both of which can result from naturally occurring radiation.

# A handful of wells contained 'trace' levels of chemicals including the herbicide hexazinone; the solvent 1,4-dioxane; and organic gases similar to those found in paints, pesticides and other products. All levels were within state standards.

# 'When compared to Florida's health-based standards, ground water quality within The Acreage is generally good.'

# The state Department of Health is continuing a separate investigation into whether rates of brain cancer in The Acreage are higher than would normally be expected.

Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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Erin Brockovich town hall meeting REPLAY

Latest water report (pdf) (10/01/09)

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But in a report released Thursday, the DEP said it found no evidence of man-made pollution in the community's drinking water after testing water from dozens of wells for a wide array of hazardous chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides and metals such as lead and arsenic.

The DEP report said four of the 50 private wells sampled in The Acreage had elevated levels of radium or alpha particles - both signs of radiation that may require the homeowners to install treatment systems. But the DEP also noted that such radioactive contamination often occurs naturally.

"When compared to Florida's health-based standards, ground water quality within The Acreage is generally good," the report said. The DEP sampled the private wells in August and September, along with wells at the Seminole Improvement District's water-treatment plant, after residents pressed officials for tests.

The homes where the DEP found elevated radium and alpha levels did not appear to be near the locations where residents have reported brain cancer in children.

In its findings on the radiation, the DEP report said two wells on 42nd Road North and two wells on Tangerine Boulevard had levels of alpha particles, radium-226 or radium-228 that exceed drinking water standards. Only 10 private wells were tested for these substances, though.

"We believe that homeowners can - through a few simple steps - ensure their drinking water meets all standards," state environmental director of waste management Mary Jean Yon wrote in an Oct. 1 letter to the state Department of Health.

More at the link.

[flkingfan]

So it's not in the water and it's not in the soil, so now what? I don't understand how they can label the acreage as a cancer cluster community when there is no evidence of where it's coming from. I understand what a cancer cluster is but don't they need a source for it?

Soil tests show no links to Acreage cancer cases

[Prettygyrl777]

Originally Posted by flkingfan

So it's not in the water and it's not in the soil, so now what? I don't understand how they can label the acreage as a cancer cluster community when there is no evidence of where it's coming from. I understand what a cancer cluster is but don't they need a source for it?

Soil tests show no links to Acreage cancer cases

That was my exact question...is it or isn't it? There was so much coverage about several months back but it doesn't seem like there is a definitive answer. Honestly, I wouldn't feel safe living there. Too many unanswered questions...

[gregm]

That was my exact question...is it or isn't it? There was so much coverage about several months back but it doesn't seem like there is a definitive answer. Honestly, I wouldn't feel safe living there. Too many unanswered questions...

Simple answer there isn't any cancer cluster just a bunch of hyped up people. Believe me when all the lawyers go home there is nothing there, if there was they would be like buzzards circulating overhead.