Save Our Aquifer – Rockledge, Florida

Reclaimed water ASR wells are only allowed in four states in the U. S. Three of those states are located in the arid southwest.  There is only one well currently operating in Florida. It took seven years to get their permit.  Other Florida projects have failed due to arsenic, poor recovery, and/or lack of funding.  Texas, Arizona, and Califormia are the only other states that permit reclaimed ASR wells.  They all treat their water to tertiary standards at a minimum, in addition to using other procedures to protect the health of their populations.

The next closest ASR well injecting reclaimed water is more than 1500 miles away, in El Paso, Texas.  In addition to treating their water to tertiary standards, they use carbon filtration and ozone.  That is the only ASR reclaimed well in Texas that I am aware of.

Arizona has clustered many of their wells in a secured area of 15,000 acres.  Unlike Rockledge, they kept their wells away from any population center.  Arizona treats their water to tertiary standards and removes nitrogen to prevent the problems of unpredictable bacterial growth.

California treats their water to tertiary standards, and additionally uses reverse osmosis.  Some wells are also oxygenated to remove the possibility of arsenic mobilization.

Florida is the only state in the U. S. (actually, maybe the world!) that allows the disposal of inadequately treated wastewater.  Because of our unique geology, research recently completed by FDEP points out the likelihood of arsenic mobilization in our groundwater, along with increasing levels of endocrine disruptors, other pollutants, and the increasing resistance of bacteria and viruses to disinfection and antibiotics.  There is also concern about the rapid growth of “superbugs” caused by the nitrogen that is found in reclaimed water.

To classify the Rockledge well as “experimental” is an understatement. Reclaimed water is not safe to drink.  Consumption is prohibited by state law.  FDEP is currently conducting more research on problems with ASR wells.  It is entirely possible these wells will no longer be permitted in Florida under the current FDEP guidelines.

It is not too late to put this project on hold, until FDEP has completed all their research.  We can be certain the cycle testing will release arsenic into the aquifer and contaminate local wells.  Once cycle testing is begun, we can never go back and undo the damage.  We will just be throwing good money after bad.

Kathy Reinhold, Rockledge

This entry was posted on Monday, May 3rd, 2010 at 6:48 am and is filed under Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.