GRANT-VALKARIA, Fla. – Major infrastructure improvements are coming to take out dangerous chemicals in your water.
Brevard County has been looking for solutions to those so-called forever chemicals that are linked to all kinds of health problems, including cancer.
And after stricter federal rules limiting PFAS, county commissioners on Tuesday voted to spend $5 million to buy land next to a current water plant north of Micco Road in order to build new water and wastewater treatment facilities.
The unanimous vote came after testing that showed PFAS exceeding EPA limits at the Barefoot Bay water treatment facility and at the Mims plant.
“People have to know about it so that they can protect their families,” county commissioner Katie Delaney told your Grant Community Correspondent James Sparvero in January.
Delaney said while one glass probably isn’t going to hurt you, if the water gets in your body long-term, the dangers could include thyroid problems, heart disease, and cancer.
“The spectrum is huge of the damage that can be done,” the commissioner said.
Allan Lahoff of Barefoot Bay said he’s concerned.
“I have thought about it quite a bit to the point where we do not drink the water here,” he said. “When my dog drinks this water, he gets sick.”
Commissioner Delaney said the county’s going to put reverse osmosis systems at its water facilities.
Just like if you have one for your house, the commissioner said it will filter out the chemicals at the plants, too.
Lahoff said the community will support the new infrastructure improvements.
“Any new plant would be nice, but when I hear new, I hear expensive,” he said.
Estimates to build the plants are around $60 million, and the county said construction could start in about two years.