Residents in east Orange County are being told they have to get their water re-tested after initial results showed high levels of a chemical byproduct.

  • Preliminary results of tests on water for 18 Wedgefield homes show high levels of THM
  • Orange County insisting on a second test
  • Pluris, private water company, has had complaints before

Preliminary test results in the Wedgefield neighborhood showed no lead or bacteria in the water, but high levels of Total Trihalomethanes, or THM, a chlorine by-product.

The tests were conducted by Orange County’s Department of Environmental Protection, at Commissioner Ted Edwards’ request earlier this month.

“It’s not something we should have to worry about in our county,” said Jessica Kohl. “It’s not something we should have to worry about in our state or our country right now.”

Kohl and her family moved to Wedgefield four years ago, unaware of water concerns -- only the prices.

“[Pluris] kept on raising the prices and we weren’t really sure what the money was going towards,” she said.

Kohl said the utility company, Pluris, only mentioned costs were associated with infrastructure.

Kohl said her family got energy efficient, replacing items like hot water heaters and washers in their home. They decreased water flow with every toilet flush and made sure their pool and irrigation systems were instead hooked up to a well.

While it made a dent, Pluris raised rates again, now to $7.76 per thousand gallons.

Kohl said that’s not their biggest concern now.

“To me, it’s not safe drinking water for me. It’s not safe drinking water for my daughter,” she said. “If we go take a bath, take a shower, we still have a chlorine smell that’s coming out of our baths and showers.”

Kohl’s home was one of 18 tested by the county. But she said she’s yet to receive back her first round results. Some residents got their results back, showing the high levels of THM. The county decided, based on those results, to move forward with a second round of tests.

Kohl was told if she can’t schedule the second round on Monday or Tuesday, Orange County will not continuing testing of her home.

In a statement Wednesday, Commissioner Ted Edwards said in part:

“Further testing is being done to determine if THMs which are a byproduct from chlorine meets state guidelines and, if not, whether the source of origin is the water company or the piping in individual homes.”

In 2013, Commissioner Ted Edwards reached out to the state, following resident concerns over quality and price.

EPA records also show the facility has been noncompliant with one or more facets of the Safe Drinking Water Act for the past three years.

Edwards said Wednesday he was unaware of the EPA noncompliance. He says only the state has jurisdiction to take action, if warranted, against Pluris.

The commissioner also said Pluris has made upgrades to their facility, has cooperated with the testing and should address problems directly with customers themselves.

We have reached out to Pluris over the last several days, even stopping by their Wedgefield facility; there has been no response or comment.

As for Kohl, her family will continue using bottled water, conserving to keep high bills down and hoping that someone takes action.

“I would be willing to pay a higher price for water if I knew it was great, safe drinking water. And we don’t have that,” said Kohl. “I want to know why we’re having these chemical buildups, and why we’re having it in such quantities.”

Wedgefield is not the only community with complaints about Pluris Water:

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner said constituents in several communities lodged similar complaints over the taste, quality and price of water.

As the company asked to raise rates in 2013, Hillsborough considered the complaints and instead, purchased the Pluris utility.