Water Issues
The idea that this landfill could impact Central Florida’s water supply is a sobering thought. Three watersheds surround the proposed site: the Withlacoochee to the north, the Green Swamp to the east, and the Hillsborough River to the south. It is also a primary recharge area for the Floridan aquifer.
These watersheds are interconnected both to each other and the groundwater supply. Whatever is above will wind up below, and if contaminates enter one system they are likely to affect all of them.
In a time when groundwater recharge and water supply issues are being discussed – and even argued – all over Florida, this landfill would put the regions major supply of water in jeopardy. Our goal should be protection of our very limited water supply. With this landfill, we turn that protection over to a private company focused on making profits.
Any sinkhole, hurricane or accident could contaminate both our surface waters and groundwater supplies with leachate. Leachate is virtually uncontainable because it disperses into the water system at a rapid rate. A recent study in a north Florida aquifer showed that some dye samples dropped into the aquifer traveled six miles in only eight days.
Think about that: We run the risk of contaminating our regional drinking water supply with a toxic mix of chemicals that have seeped from the landfill. This has the potential of damaging an area we have paid over $138 million in tax dollars to protect.
"...it could possibly get into the aquifer and ruin our drinking water" - John Floyd, Citrus Farmer
And that is just the beginning.
The affects will continue to be felt by communities that might be miles down stream.
To add insult to injury, we wouldn’t’ even know about a leak until it was too late. State rules say that the landfill would not be required to notify the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) until the leak exceeds 347 gallons per day per acre. Then they have seven days to contact officials. Angelo’s would then have 120 days after the initial leak to make a recommendation on how to fix the problem.
To put it into perspective: 2,596,601 gallons of leachate will be off the site before any operator action is required by the DEP.
We all have something at stake and the risks are real.