News

Mar 07, 2023

Commissioner calls for test to detect cancer causing chemicals in drinking water

By The New Pelican Newspaper | on

By The New Pelican Newspaper | on June 06, 2023

By Judy Wilson | Associate Editor

Broward County Commissioner Mark Bogen is asking that the county test the drinking water in Broward's 27 cities for PFAs, commonly known as "forever chemicals." He said this week he will pay for tests in 10 cities himself and expects to have results within 30 days.

The first federal attempt to regulate the contaminants occurred in May when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed limits of PFAs to 4 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water. Currently, the EPA's "health guidelines" are 70 ppt. The EPA has until September of 2024 to finalize the more stringent standards.

The chemicals, several categories of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are indicated to cause kidney cancer and pancreatic tumors in rats, liver disease, weakened immune systems, elevated cholesterol levels and possibly negative effects on developing babies. Once in the environment, they do not break down.

The chemicals are found in nonstick cookware (teflon), water resistant fabrics, stain resistant coatings in carpeting and upholstery, cleaning products, shampoo, nail polish, eye makeup, dental floss and even in microwave popcorn bags.

Drinking water can become contaminated with PFAs due to discharges in rivers or lakes or proximity to industrial sites. In California there is a pending bill that would ban PFAs in cleaning products by the year 2025.

Bogen was alerted to a possible problem in Broward's drinking water in a Florida International University publication that reported a PFAs test in Dania Beach showed levels of 124 ppt.

"There have been water tests taken in Broward County and the results are alarming," Bogen told the county commission in May. "I’m asking that our tap water be tested to learn whether or not we have PFAs in our drinking water and, if so, at what level. If we learn we have more than 4 ppt, we will work to eliminate it."

The cost is about $600 per PFAs test and only a small amount of water is needed. The good news, Bogen said, is that reverse osmosis water systems in homes reduce or eliminate the contaminant, a process that is also used by many bottled water companies.

Several Broward municipalities produce their own drinking water, including Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Hillsboro Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. Others, including Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, and Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, get their water from larger cities. In northeast Broward, the county sells water to the annexed areas between Deerfield Beach and Copans Road, including Tallman Pines, the Highlands, and Cresthaven.

Pompano Beach is participating in collecting samples for 30 chemical contaminants between 2023 and 2025, Utilities Director Randy Brown said. If the EPA's proposed regulations become law, a final timeline will go into effect sometime after 2025. The cost of ridding drinking water of PFAs will fall on the consumer, he added. "Rate payers will need to invest millions of dollars to remove and destroy these chemicals."

Bogen said he will first test cities in his Commission 2 District, Deerfield Beach, Parkland, Coconut Creek, Pompano Beach, Margate, as well as an area also served by the county, Hillsboro Pines and Ranches.

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