Apopka wastewater treatment plant contaminated with nitrogen & ammonia

APOPKA, Fla. — 9 Investigative reporter Daralene Jones uncovered that the wastewater treatment plant in Apopka has been contaminated with high levels of nitrogen and ammonia.

The water is typically converted into reclaimed water for your lawn.

The city has been forced to dump millions of gallons of water that can’t be used, Eyewitness News has learned.

Records provided by the city and confirmed by the company showed the issue stems waste water coming from a major company, Anuvia.

The company accepts about 240 tons of waste a day. That waste is turned into fertilizer, and it’s the process that creates the fertilizer that is causing the problem, according to company Anuvia president, Amy Yoder.

Anuvia is tucked away on a country road, off 441 in Zellwood. The company produces a one-of-a-kind fertilizer for commercial use.

The president and CEO acknowledged to Eyewitness News that there have been problems with the new-and-fairly untested technology. The primary problem, she said, was with a dryer used to suck moisture out of the waste.

“We haven't been able to get to the levels we need to get to. So a decision Anuvia made, we're no longer going to use that dryer. We have basically shut that dryer down,” Yoder said.

Excess water from the production process is sent to the water treatment facility in the city of Apopka, just a few miles away.

Anuvia is permitted to send 100,000 gallons a day, but has only reached 65,000, according to the agreement with the city.

Samples taken from the plant in May showed nitrogen levels at 1130 parts per million; the city only allows 60 parts per million, according to city records.

Ammonia levels were at 978, far above the acceptable level of 30. Both chemicals can cause the water treatment plant to malfunction and could be a major problem for the county's second largest city.

“Was there ever a cease and desist order sent to them?” asked Jones.

“I don’t know,” said Apopka Mayor, Joe Kilsheimer.

Kilsheimer later reversed course as Jones attempted to show him a copy of the cease and desist order. Kilsheimer said he met with the company president, and Yoder expressed concern about the city’s plan to shut down operations. The Mayor then explained why he isn't entertaining a recommendation from his own public works department.

“In order to fix the problems, they have to be able to run the plant,” Kilsheimer said.

Too much nitrogen and ammonia can deplete what's called dissolve oxygen, or bugs that clean up reclaimed water.

During the month of May, records from the Department of Environmental Protection showed, the city discharged 43-million gallons into spray fields because it's not usable, which is more than normal.

9 Investigates obtained photos that showed ponding in the fields. The city blamed a broken pipe.

The city also diverted some of the ponding into city-owned property that is not permitted for dumping. 9 Investigates asked the Department of Environmental Protection about what Eyewitness News uncovered. A spokesperson confirmed the city does not have a permit, but said it’s unlikely the city will be cited because they sent a letter Tuesday, explaining why it had to divert the water.

“We don't believe it will have substantial impacts over the long term. We believe that they're going to come into compliance,” Kilsheimer said.

Anuvia showed Eyewitness News records that showed it has been in compliance for the last 9 days. The company said it anticipates it will continue on that course.

Contact Daralene Jones for more on this story.

Cox Media Group