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Water Issues
The map to the right is from FDEP itself according to its FAVA study - the Florida Aquifer
Vulnerability Assessment. According to FDEP, "In ground-breaking research on aquifer
protection in Florida, a GIS modeling technique has been applied to predict the
vulnerability of Florida’s aquifer systems to surface sources of contamination." In
addition, the FDEP website also states: "Aquifer vulnerability maps are an important
resource for planners, developers, resource-management professionals and policy
makers to facilitate protection of Florida’s ground-water resources." We referenced
this study and map in our research paper to FDEP stating that while there is a need for
landfills, why are they allowing them to be placed in areas that are clearly at the
highest risk for groundwater contamination? FDEP never responded.
The following images on this page are from other studies regarding Florida's fragile
aquifer systems from reliable sources such as SWFMD and even NASA. The risk is REAL
- the risk is SERIOUS. All of our research supports our claim that water contamination
is inevitable for all areas surrounding a landfill - and our situation is that more
dangerous because of our state's fragile aquifers and risk of sinkholes. This landfill
could adversely impact the many counties, not just ours, that depend on the Floridan
Aquifer. Even worse - it would take months for any type of "corrective action" to be
taken by the landfill operator. By that time - households nearest the landfill would
have unsafe water and it is only a matter of time before the contaminants reach
households further away.
"There is a growing body of evidence that suggests certain components often
encountered in the C&D waste stream, such as CCA-treated wood, have the potential
to result in groundwater contamination," he says. "However, data from facilities that
utilize groundwater monitoring wells find that the impacts are less frequently seen
from hazardous pollutants such as arsenic, and more frequently observed from
common minerals that leach from basic construction materials such as drywall and
wood." These include chlorides, sulfates, manganese, iron and ammonia."
The County cancelled out the requirement from the original settlement that required
the landfill to have a spotter employed by Hernando County to check incoming debris.
We have minutes from a 1998 meeting where Mr. Richard Radacky, the Utilities
Director, "expressed a concern with the C&D ordinance required a 'spotter'. He stated
that this created a heavy liability for the County and asked to revisit that issue." So
isn't it a little funny that the Croom C&D Landfill no longer has a spotter employed by
the County - so who will pay for the clean-up and our water supply when our wells are
contaminated and the landfill operator has high-tailed it or filed bankruptcy? We will -
the County will have no ties or "liability" for the matter.
The map to the right is from FDEP itself according to its FAVA study - the Florida Aquifer
Vulnerability Assessment. According to FDEP, "In ground-breaking research on aquifer
protection in Florida, a GIS modeling technique has been applied to predict the
vulnerability of Florida’s aquifer systems to surface sources of contamination." In
addition, the FDEP website also states: "Aquifer vulnerability maps are an important
resource for planners, developers, resource-management professionals and policy
makers to facilitate protection of Florida’s ground-water resources." We referenced
this study and map in our research paper to FDEP stating that while there is a need for
landfills, why are they allowing them to be placed in areas that are clearly at the
highest risk for groundwater contamination? FDEP never responded.
The following images on this page are from other studies regarding Florida's fragile
aquifer systems from reliable sources such as SWFMD and even NASA. The risk is REAL
- the risk is SERIOUS. All of our research supports our claim that water contamination
is inevitable for all areas surrounding a landfill - and our situation is that more
dangerous because of our state's fragile aquifers and risk of sinkholes. This landfill
could adversely impact the many counties, not just ours, that depend on the Floridan
Aquifer. Even worse - it would take months for any type of "corrective action" to be
taken by the landfill operator. By that time - households nearest the landfill would
have unsafe water and it is only a matter of time before the contaminants reach
households further away.
"There is a growing body of evidence that suggests certain components often
encountered in the C&D waste stream, such as CCA-treated wood, have the potential
to result in groundwater contamination," he says. "However, data from facilities that
utilize groundwater monitoring wells find that the impacts are less frequently seen
from hazardous pollutants such as arsenic, and more frequently observed from
common minerals that leach from basic construction materials such as drywall and
wood." These include chlorides, sulfates, manganese, iron and ammonia."
The County cancelled out the requirement from the original settlement that required
the landfill to have a spotter employed by Hernando County to check incoming debris.
We have minutes from a 1998 meeting where Mr. Richard Radacky, the Utilities
Director, "expressed a concern with the C&D ordinance required a 'spotter'. He stated
that this created a heavy liability for the County and asked to revisit that issue." So
isn't it a little funny that the Croom C&D Landfill no longer has a spotter employed by
the County - so who will pay for the clean-up and our water supply when our wells are
contaminated and the landfill operator has high-tailed it or filed bankruptcy? We will -
the County will have no ties or "liability" for the matter.
The Dirty Truth About Groundwater Contamination
We could go on for days about the types of toxins that research shows leaks into the aquifer due to landfills and the serious affects these
toxins have. One example is in Volusia County where a landfill "currently receives only yard trimmings and construction debris," reported
that "elevated levels of nitrates" were found in on-site monitoring wells. One resident "complained she and her husband experienced
diarrhea for over six months...their symptoms ceased when they switched to bottled water."
Florida Journal of Environmental Health states that "Contaminants typically found in groundwater surrounding C&D landfills include
cadmium, lead, iron, manganese, several chlorinated volatile organic compounds, and sulfate. Elevated levels of chromium and arsenic are
found if chromated copper arsenate-treated wood is disposed of in the landfill." Here is the Journal's recommendations "to avoid
community and occupational health issues at C&D landfills: 1) Avoid siting landfills near residential areas."
In Campbell County, VA - "landfill cleanup cost reaches $3 million." While this water contamination is from a Municipal Landfill, it just goes
to show you how quickly the costs can rise when trying to clean up groundwater contamination. "It will take years, possibly decades to
bring the groundwater contamination under control." But these costs don't include the millions awarded to one couple who owned "Twin
Oaks mobile home park." "The Royals said the offers were made in exchange for giving up claims against the county and that the pollution
left the property uninsurable and created a high liability risk...The pollution includes a mixture of chemicals called volatile organic
compounds..." Hmmm, didn't the Florida Journal of Environmental Health specifically state that contaminants typically found in groundwater
near C&D landfills include "volatile organic compounds"?
There are numerous newspaper articles that report on water contamination due to landfills and the millions of dollars it costs to attempt to
resolve the issue. Someone once said to me that 'It takes Mother Nature 100 years to correct what man can do in 1 year.' So not only is
the threat of water contamination one we are not willing to gamble with, the landfill applicants have shown their lack of respect for our
area and DEP rules. FDEP rules state that no potable wells can be within 500 feet of a landfill. The Croom C&D Landfill applicants chose
not to disclose on the DEP permit two potable wells that are well within 500 feet of the proposed landfill. FDEP clearly states that the
landfill operators must inspect the area for potable wells within 500 feet of the proposed site. It that weren't bad enough, Randy Yoho
approached one of the well owners late one evening offering him $10,000 to either build a new well or do whatever he wanted with it. Is
this being a good neighbor? Is this ethical? If the landfill should begin operation and if water contamination occurs as our research claims
it will, how can we be sure by any means that the landfill operators will properly correct the situation when they have already shown a
clear lack of respect for our residents and our water? Furthermore, what happens if the landfill operators claim bankruptcy and are long
gone when groundwater contamination becomes evident? Who pays for us to somehow receive clean water when the County has already
made sure they can't be held liable?
We must act NOW to stop this landfill and prohibit this individuals from ruining what we all enjoy and have worked so hard to have.
We could go on for days about the types of toxins that research shows leaks into the aquifer due to landfills and the serious affects these
toxins have. One example is in Volusia County where a landfill "currently receives only yard trimmings and construction debris," reported
that "elevated levels of nitrates" were found in on-site monitoring wells. One resident "complained she and her husband experienced
diarrhea for over six months...their symptoms ceased when they switched to bottled water."
Florida Journal of Environmental Health states that "Contaminants typically found in groundwater surrounding C&D landfills include
cadmium, lead, iron, manganese, several chlorinated volatile organic compounds, and sulfate. Elevated levels of chromium and arsenic are
found if chromated copper arsenate-treated wood is disposed of in the landfill." Here is the Journal's recommendations "to avoid
community and occupational health issues at C&D landfills: 1) Avoid siting landfills near residential areas."
In Campbell County, VA - "landfill cleanup cost reaches $3 million." While this water contamination is from a Municipal Landfill, it just goes
to show you how quickly the costs can rise when trying to clean up groundwater contamination. "It will take years, possibly decades to
bring the groundwater contamination under control." But these costs don't include the millions awarded to one couple who owned "Twin
Oaks mobile home park." "The Royals said the offers were made in exchange for giving up claims against the county and that the pollution
left the property uninsurable and created a high liability risk...The pollution includes a mixture of chemicals called volatile organic
compounds..." Hmmm, didn't the Florida Journal of Environmental Health specifically state that contaminants typically found in groundwater
near C&D landfills include "volatile organic compounds"?
There are numerous newspaper articles that report on water contamination due to landfills and the millions of dollars it costs to attempt to
resolve the issue. Someone once said to me that 'It takes Mother Nature 100 years to correct what man can do in 1 year.' So not only is
the threat of water contamination one we are not willing to gamble with, the landfill applicants have shown their lack of respect for our
area and DEP rules. FDEP rules state that no potable wells can be within 500 feet of a landfill. The Croom C&D Landfill applicants chose
not to disclose on the DEP permit two potable wells that are well within 500 feet of the proposed landfill. FDEP clearly states that the
landfill operators must inspect the area for potable wells within 500 feet of the proposed site. It that weren't bad enough, Randy Yoho
approached one of the well owners late one evening offering him $10,000 to either build a new well or do whatever he wanted with it. Is
this being a good neighbor? Is this ethical? If the landfill should begin operation and if water contamination occurs as our research claims
it will, how can we be sure by any means that the landfill operators will properly correct the situation when they have already shown a
clear lack of respect for our residents and our water? Furthermore, what happens if the landfill operators claim bankruptcy and are long
gone when groundwater contamination becomes evident? Who pays for us to somehow receive clean water when the County has already
made sure they can't be held liable?
We must act NOW to stop this landfill and prohibit this individuals from ruining what we all enjoy and have worked so hard to have.
Sinkholes in Florida
The threat of sinkholes is serious for all Floridans. But some areas are more prone than others. This is especially the case when activity
and construction increase or if the area's supporting layers are weaker than normal. The picture to the bottom left shows our area's
abundance of sinkhole activity. Hernando County knows all too well the risks of sinkholes, here's an excerpt from our research paper:
A seminar was held at Hernando County Utilities Department in 2008 entitled “Understanding Sinkholes and Why They Occur." Speakers
included Harley Means (geologist with Florida Geological Survey in Tallahassee), Tony Gilboy (geologist with SWFWMD) and Alys Brockway
(Hernando County’s conservation coordinator). Discussed were the “basics of karst geology that is so abundant in Hernando County...its
paramount to understanding sinkholes” and that sinkholes are a “direct portal to the aquifer”. Of special note: “Means is a fourth-generation
Floridian who has seen his share of sinkholes, the most dramatic of which happened in September 1999. A sinkhole opened under Tallahassee’s
Lake Jackson, reducing the 4,000 acre body of water to little more than a pond.”
So what does this mean? If a sinkhole occurs on the Croom C&D Landfill site, a giant hole will open up allowing all of the debris in that
area to fall directly into the aquifer, as depicted in the picture to the left. All of the chemicals and harmful elements will then mix with the
water and contaminate our water. What happens then? It will take months and thousands of dollars to receive filtering systems on our
wells. Carol Allard knows all too well the seriousness of contaminated water as she has arsenic in hers. "I have been ill for more than 2
years now and my doctors could not diagnose anything because most doctors don't check hair samples for arsenic. When blood tests
show arsenic you are probably dead! My cats died and my other animals kept having digestive problems and their hair turned white. They
have growths. The reason the County is not going door to door to tell people about the 35 square miles of contamination is because they
don't want to "needlessly" alarm anyone!" Carol said.
She also knows of one family who has been instructed to not drink the water but they can still bathe in it. "But the skin acts like a
sponge!" Carol exclaimed. Arsenic enters the body through the skin. "My vet told me not to bath the dogs in the water but the county
expects people to let their children bath in the arsenic water. " she explained.
After calling the Florida EPA almost daily for well over a month, they finally installed a dual filter system for Carol which costs about $8000
to install and $4000 a year to maintain. Although the Florida EPA is supposed to check the system to make sure it is working properly, she
pays a private well testing company to check the arsenic level herself. "Because of the way the system was installed, I have to check the
system at least 3 times a week to make sure the timer is still working so the scheduled back-flushes take place." she explained. Not only
does Carol depend on clean water for her own well-being but the many animals she cares for in her private non-profit animal sanctuary do
too.
If Hernando County is not liable for any contamination, who pays for the extremely expensive water systems? We will. Why are we
convinced sinkholes will be impossible to avoid with this landfill? Because as SWFWMD even states, " Increased numbers of sinkholes can
generally be attributed to changing or loading of the earth's surface with development such as retention ponds, buildings, changes in
drainage patters, heavy traffic, drilling vibrations..." and because the current sand pits that will be holding the debris have NEVER held
water - it seeps directly into the ground.
Allowing this Croom Landfill to be permitted puts our region's water supply fate into the hands of individuals who are solely focused on
making money and have already clearly demonstrated a lack of respect for the area, the residents and the wildlife surrounding the C&D
landfill site.
The threat of sinkholes is serious for all Floridans. But some areas are more prone than others. This is especially the case when activity
and construction increase or if the area's supporting layers are weaker than normal. The picture to the bottom left shows our area's
abundance of sinkhole activity. Hernando County knows all too well the risks of sinkholes, here's an excerpt from our research paper:
A seminar was held at Hernando County Utilities Department in 2008 entitled “Understanding Sinkholes and Why They Occur." Speakers
included Harley Means (geologist with Florida Geological Survey in Tallahassee), Tony Gilboy (geologist with SWFWMD) and Alys Brockway
(Hernando County’s conservation coordinator). Discussed were the “basics of karst geology that is so abundant in Hernando County...its
paramount to understanding sinkholes” and that sinkholes are a “direct portal to the aquifer”. Of special note: “Means is a fourth-generation
Floridian who has seen his share of sinkholes, the most dramatic of which happened in September 1999. A sinkhole opened under Tallahassee’s
Lake Jackson, reducing the 4,000 acre body of water to little more than a pond.”
So what does this mean? If a sinkhole occurs on the Croom C&D Landfill site, a giant hole will open up allowing all of the debris in that
area to fall directly into the aquifer, as depicted in the picture to the left. All of the chemicals and harmful elements will then mix with the
water and contaminate our water. What happens then? It will take months and thousands of dollars to receive filtering systems on our
wells. Carol Allard knows all too well the seriousness of contaminated water as she has arsenic in hers. "I have been ill for more than 2
years now and my doctors could not diagnose anything because most doctors don't check hair samples for arsenic. When blood tests
show arsenic you are probably dead! My cats died and my other animals kept having digestive problems and their hair turned white. They
have growths. The reason the County is not going door to door to tell people about the 35 square miles of contamination is because they
don't want to "needlessly" alarm anyone!" Carol said.
She also knows of one family who has been instructed to not drink the water but they can still bathe in it. "But the skin acts like a
sponge!" Carol exclaimed. Arsenic enters the body through the skin. "My vet told me not to bath the dogs in the water but the county
expects people to let their children bath in the arsenic water. " she explained.
After calling the Florida EPA almost daily for well over a month, they finally installed a dual filter system for Carol which costs about $8000
to install and $4000 a year to maintain. Although the Florida EPA is supposed to check the system to make sure it is working properly, she
pays a private well testing company to check the arsenic level herself. "Because of the way the system was installed, I have to check the
system at least 3 times a week to make sure the timer is still working so the scheduled back-flushes take place." she explained. Not only
does Carol depend on clean water for her own well-being but the many animals she cares for in her private non-profit animal sanctuary do
too.
If Hernando County is not liable for any contamination, who pays for the extremely expensive water systems? We will. Why are we
convinced sinkholes will be impossible to avoid with this landfill? Because as SWFWMD even states, " Increased numbers of sinkholes can
generally be attributed to changing or loading of the earth's surface with development such as retention ponds, buildings, changes in
drainage patters, heavy traffic, drilling vibrations..." and because the current sand pits that will be holding the debris have NEVER held
water - it seeps directly into the ground.
Allowing this Croom Landfill to be permitted puts our region's water supply fate into the hands of individuals who are solely focused on
making money and have already clearly demonstrated a lack of respect for the area, the residents and the wildlife surrounding the C&D
landfill site.
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