Orange County in Florida offers remarkable water utilities to the residents. Despite the ostensible growing number of residents, the utilities water system is capable of managing the increased number of clients. The last detailed report was established in 2019, detailing the happenings of 2018. It was discerned that the water system caters for a population of above 546,662 individuals (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). Also, up to 22.8 billion gallons of water are produced within 8 facilities located in remote areas and 3 which are regional (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). This water ends up being distributed in region of 1901 miles. It is, therefore, resourceful for the residents, in which case the county authorities as well as other local organizations end up being mandated with the responsibility of keeping the water safe for consumption. This implies that high standards of compliance have to be met before water can be certified as fit for consumption. Despite the good standards exhibited by the water in Orange County, some violations and inconsistencies have at one point being noted and rectified with the right level of dexterity.
First, it is imperative to note that there exists a freshwater reservoir in Orange County which has been labeled the Floridan Aquifer. This is consistent with ground water with exceptionally high standards of quality. The water is obtained from rainwater that filters into the sands and rocks through the natural filtering process (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). Owing to the level of quality posed by the water acquired, very little treatment is utilized, and the little that is applied is meant to eliminate hydrogen sulfide. It is, nevertheless, imperative to note that there are other contaminants which are bound to be present in the water. For instance, microbial contaminants which may include bacteria from sewage plants, inorganic contaminants such as salts, pesticides and herbicides from agricultural processes, organic chemical contaminants such as organic chemicals from industrial related processes and radioactive contaminants naturally occurring as a result of oil and gas exploration (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). Every public water supplier including Orange County is required by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to undertake a regular check for contaminants likely to be present in the water that they seek to supply residents. This occurs in compliance with the federal and state regulations set in place (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). It is, however, important to note that the concentration of contaminants seldom changes. Also, their presence in the water is not necessarily a cause for alarm.
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The Environment Protection Agency has a duty of prescribing regulations indicating limitations regarding various contaminants present in the water that is available for public consumption and also certify that tap water is safe for consumption. Concurrently, Orange County has an obligation to work within the standards of safety for bottled water which are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sources within the county, include streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, springs, reservoirs and wells (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). A definitive way regarding how reservoir water is likely to be contaminated is based on how it moves into the ground. The idea that it dissolves the naturally occurring minerals makes it possible for radioactive contaminants to be present in the water (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). Other harmful elements may result from the activity of animals and humans. The report further opines that the presence of high levels of contaminants in the water is likely to cause detrimental health problems. This occurs mostly in young children and pregnant women (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). Additionally, home plumbing and service learn activities are likely to contribute to the presence of lead in the water. In order to avoid this contaminant it has been suggested that one ought to flush the still water for approximately 30 seconds to 2 minutes (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). Alternatively, one may seek to have the water tested in the event that they suspect that it may be contaminated with lead.
It is further imperative to note that there is a section of individuals in the society who are likely to be more vulnerable to the contaminated water within the population compared to others. For example, individuals suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, and some other immune related disorders (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). The County advises such people to seek for advice prior to consuming public water. The Centers for Disease Control and EPA offer guidelines regarding how such people should handle water. Infants and elderly individuals are also prone to encountering difficulties resulting from consuming contaminated water. The report further details the presence of Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAPP) whose mandate is to ascertain the safety of water. This is a program whose sole purpose is to reinforce compliance with acceptable standards of water quality within the state and county. SWAPP was initiated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). The obligation of the body is in line with the Safe Drinking Water Act instituted by the federal agencies which ascertains that all water sources, including: Rivers, lakes, streams and aquifers are rid off any contaminants that are likely to be present. SWAPP, therefore, seeks to protect the water sources and minimize any risk posed.
Florida State also takes part in ensuring that the correct standards of quality are enforced in the respective counties. The state has certified operators who analyze the water being distributed to homes in the laboratory in a bid to confirm that compliance is maintained. This safeguards the quality of water being provided and as a result, only the highest quality of water is offered to the residents. In 2018, for instance, the report details that up to 350000 water analyses were done, which supersedes the required limit (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). This is a clear indication that the state takes the initiative of water quality with a lot of seriousness. More specifically, Orange County monitors 150 substances that are capable of being present in water before it can be distributed to the residents. Based on an analysis conducted in 2018, part of the contaminants found to be present involve: Bromide, Haloacetic acids and Manganese; all whose levels were regulated accordingly. It is, nonetheless, apparent that despite the painstaking attention to detail, violations are bound to occur. In 2017, for instance, a single sample was found to contain 10.6 ppb amount of arsenic which is toxic to the water (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). After making this discovery, the well was turned off since high consumption of arsenic is bound to result in skin damage as well as problems within the circulation system of individuals (Orange County Utilities Department, 2019). Moreover, this increases the risk of cancer. Also, during part of 2018, an administrative oversight failed in submitting samples taken in time, however, luckily, the violation did not result in any harm since no contaminants were observed in the samples collected. Moreover, despite safety and reliability, the county monitors the water being administered to the residents to ensure that it is affordable to them.
To sum it up, the report clearly establishes that Orange County in Florida is keen in meeting the safety standards of regulations and compliance for the water that is administered to residents. Despite some few anomalies, the County is at the forefront in maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency. Notwithstanding the greatest volume of water being obtained from the Floridan Aquifer, the County monitors other water sources such as rivers regularly to ensure that they do not contain harmful levels of contaminants. Further still, compliance with the federal law is something that Orange County is always keen to maintain. Generally, the water produced within the county is safe for consumption by all the residents and in the event that any person may notice any form of contamination, they should seek to contact the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) in order to ensure that the water available to them is safe.
Reference
Orange County Utilities Department (2019). Annual Drinking Water Report 2019 . Environment Protection Agency https://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/Library/Water-Garbage-Recycle/docs/AnnualDrinkingWaterReport2019.pdf?v=2
