9 Investigates: Troubles persist for Apopka's wastewater treatment plant

APOPKA, Fla. — The city of Apopka continues to have trouble with its wastewater treatment plant. 9 Investigates found out it's causing the city to waste water that might otherwise be used to water people’s lawns.

Investigative reporter Daralene Jones has been following the issue since June and has learned it could eventually cause environmental and health concerns.

The City of Apopka has sent millions of gallons of wastewater to the spray fields this year. 9 Investigates learned the total suspended solids leaving the plant has at times, far exceeded the limit allowed by the state. A spokesperson for the city couldn't explain why it's happening.

"We really don't know. What we're seeing is, we've had peak times in the mornings with our customers and that's when we're seeing more solids coming into the system. We can't identify that it's one thing over another," Robert Sargent said.

The limit on solids can not exceed 60 parts per million because it can contain silt, animal matter, industrial waste and even sewage.

Hourly reports 9 Investigates has reviewed showed levels have reached as high as 600 parts per million; the treatment process is supposed to remove that. But when the process doesn't, that unusable wastewater is diverted into reject ponds and onto sprayfields, seeping into the ground surrounded by residential neighborhoods.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, eventually it goes to the aquifer. Jones asked whether it has the potential to have impact on the environment.

"It is not consistent. It is only periodic that water that goes into the spray field for what the state permits," Sargent said.

Apopka has not yet reached its limit on what it can divert to its spray fields. A spokesperson for the DEP told 9 Investigates in an email that the city is required to chlorinate the wastewater. Chlorine protects against human pathogens, which is important for health and environmental reasons, officials said.

"Because that reclaimed water is exceeding levels, it goes directly to a reject pond and then is sent back into the plant to be treated again. It's kind of pointless to chlorinate that and there is no requirement to chlorinate that from the information I have,” Sargent said.

City council members approved this month a $36 million contract to start the first phase of upgrades and expansion on its wastewater treatment plant.

The mayor of Apopka has said the improvements will expand capacity, provide full nutrient removal to apply with strict state standards and improve reclaimed water for distribution to your home.

Apopka was due to be inspected this year, but that had not happened yet. 9 Investigates found out the DEP sent engineers to the wastewater treatment plant Wednesday. Engineers are reviewing operations and log reports monitoring those suspended solid levels.

Cox Media Group