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 also is a primary recharge area for the Floridan Aquifer.
These watersheds are interconnected both to each other and to the groundwater supply. Whatever is above will wind up below, and if contaminates enter one system, they are likely to affect them all.
In a time when rainfall patterns are changing, where scientists say we can expect prolonged drought, our goal should be protection of our very limited water supply.
With this landfill, we turn our water supply over to a private company.
As waste breaks down it produces a liquid. Landfills and other facilities have thick liners that are meant to keep that liquid on the landfill property and out of the water supply. But liners break and crack. Humans make mistakes. Stuff happens. And when there is a rip, tear or accident 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 waste leaking from this landfill. It’s a risk and just not worth it.
And that is just the beginning.
The effects could impact communities miles downstream.
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 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 that into perspective: 2,596,601 gallons of leachate could leak off the site before any operator action is required by the DEP.
Our risk, but for what gain?