More water tests in the Wedgefield community of Orange County show high levels of a chemical byproduct.

  • Tests so far show most of the 18 homes tests in Wedgfield have high levels of TTHMs
  • TTHMs are a byproduct of the chlorinating process
  • Orange County says they have no jurisdiction over Wedgefield's water company, Pluris

The community is dependent upon drinking water from Pluris, a private water and wastewater utility company.

Over the years, homeowners have lodged complaints against the company, citing concerns over water quality and price.

Then, following a series of complaints in February of this year, Orange County conducted independent testing though the Environmental Protection Department of 18 Wedgefield homes in April.

“It’s 2016, we live in America. We should have safe drinking water,” said Nicole Lane, who lives in Wedgefield. “Now bath time’s a nightmare, and that’s terrifying. Am I killing my child?”

Lane is a new mom of a two-year-old boy, Logan. While she said she loves her neighborhood, she’s not willing to risk her son’s life -- and recent test results are alarming.

“I don’t know what to do anymore. We’re talking about possibly moving,” she admitted. “We get results back and I’m poisoning my child and I feel like the worst mother in the world.”

Lane lives in the Reserve, in one of the homes tested. On Monday, she learned that she, like many of her neighbors, had water with Total Trihalomethanes, or TTHMs, well above the federally-mandated limit of 80 parts per billion.

And so far her home is not alone.

Wedgefield Testing

Total Trihalomethanes (initial)

Total Trihalomethanes (after 20 min of flushing)

Home 1

159.13 ug/L

160.01 ug/L

Home 2

132.55 ug/L

123.18 ug/L

Home 3

134.43 ug/L

129.75 ug/L

Home 4

142.81 ug/L

131.85 ug/L

Home 5

116.38 ug/L

127.14 ug/L

Home 6

195.43 ug/L

67.47 ug/L

Home 7

116.34 ug/L

96.31 ug/L

Home 8

155.12 ug/L

126.19 ug/L

Home 9

105.04 ug/L

164.01 ug/L

Home 10

199.73 ug/L

109.14 ug/L

Home 11

152.14 ug/L

145.79 ug/L

Home 12

77.31 ug/L

70.46 ug/L

Home 13

103.24 ug/L

138.57 ug/L (118.57 ug/L third test)

Home 14

127.22 ug/L

165.70 ug/L

“Now I’m afraid. It’s scary,” Lane said. “It’s not a matter of if it causes cancer; it’s a matter of when.”

On Tuesday, water concerns flowed through the Board of County Commissioners meeting.

“To say that I’m concerned is an understatement,” said Evelyn Perez, who lives in the neighborhood as well.

Armed with photos of corroded pipes and discolored bath water, she took to the podium to speak. “We’ve been saying this for years. We’ve been asking for help for years.”

“We can tell the state DEP what our test results were and they’ll take remedial action with Pluris to make sure residents do have safe drinking water,” said Commissioner Ted Edwards, who represents Orange County District 5. Edwards said that Orange County does not have jurisdiction over the private water company.

We reached out to the State Department of Environmental Protection, who is receiving Orange County’s results as they come in.

The DEP said the Wedgefield water facility exceeded TTHM for two quarters in the past, but is now back in compliance. While the current round of testing did not reveal lead in the water, a second-round of sampling is underway due to preliminary results.

Long-term TTHM exposure has been linked to certain types of cancers, according to the Florida Health Dept.

Lane said she refuses to quit, even sending an email to Mayor Jacobs, FL Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando and others this week.

“I sent a picture of my son, taken on Mother’s Day,” she said, “So they can look at him and see who this is affecting.”

In a statement Wednesday, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said:

“The Wedgefield community receives their drinking water from Pluris, a private utility. Pluris is not under the jurisdiction of Orange County Government, instead it is regulated by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the State of Florida Public Service Commission. Although Orange County has no authority over Pluris, the safety and well-being of our citizens is of the utmost importance. Therefore, when Commissioner Edwards alerted us to the citizens’ concerns about the quality of their water, we conducted initial testing. We have alerted the Florida Department of Environmental Protection of the initial findings and we are following up with additional samples, which are being overseen by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. These samples will be split with Pluris. Based on these results, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will decide what action to take to correct the situation.”