In response to citizens’ complaints about potential violations of state regulations at the city of Apopka’s wastewater plant, Mayor Joe Kilsheimer said there is no public health issue.
After news reports last week of 14 potential violations as pointed out in a letter from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), several citizens complained to the City Council about the matter at its Wednesday, January 18, meeting.
“We don’t answer to ourselves when it comes to this wastewater treatment issue,” Kilsheimer said. “We answer to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and we answer to the Florida Department of Health. Both the Florida Department of Health and the Florida DEP have told us unequivocally that there is no public health issue. There is also no connection between issues relating to wastewater and the city’s public drinking water supply as some social media sites have tried to claim. No connection whatsoever.”
Jay Davoll, who heads up the city’s Public Services Department, spoke about some of the technical issues concerning the wastewater plan and used an aerial picture to show where different parts of the plant are located off the south side of Cleveland Street in Apopka.
Five citizens out of a packed City Council Chambers spoke about the issues prior to the mayor’s comments.
Two area pastors, Richard King and Alexander Smith, expressed their concerns about the reports from DEP that there was a spill of 10,000 gallons of treated wastewater and that up to four million gallons of treated wastewater was intentionally released into reuse water holding ponds, among other issues.
“I’m real concerned about the problem at the wastewater plant,” King said. “I happen to live right off the street from the plant. I don’t have to ask you if there are problems; I believe there is a problem.
“There are two things, as you talk about this tonight, I would like for you to answer: Is it reversible? Does it pose a threat? An immediate threat or threat down the road to the people of this community?”
Smith asked about private wells residents use for water that are in the immediate area of the wastewater plant that is located off Cleveland Street in Apopka.
He said he was concerned that the violations could cause what he said is blue-baby syndrome, which is caused by low oxygen in the water supply. “That will happen and my question is who will be responsible for cleaning up those wells,” he said.
An expanded version of this story, plus other recaps of the Wednesday, January 18, City Council meeting, will appear in the Friday, January 20, issue of The Apopka Chief.
