APOPKA, Fla. — The city of Apopka was just fined for an issue one man has been complaining about for years.

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He said the backflow preventers weren’t being inspected.

The contraption on water pipes allows for water to flow in one direction, which keeps drinking water from being contaminated.

Eddie Poirier’s wife died of cancer in 2015. He believes it was something in the water of his home that caused it because he said his backflow preventer failed an inspection in 2013, and he lived there for six years before that, not knowing there was an issue.

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Poirier has been fighting for backflow preventers and cross connectors to get more attention from the city for years to make sure they are all in compliance and that the water is safe.

No cancer cluster has been found in his neighborhood, and the city has said the water is fine. However, Poirier filed a complaint with the Department of Environmental Protection, saying the city failed when it comes to making sure everyone had the equipment tested and inspected.

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The department fined the city $34,000 for three years of non-compliance. The department said it was warned last year of the issue.

It’s up to homeowners to have their backflow preventers tested and inspected, but the new ordinance voted on will make sure the city does what it can to let people know what they need to do and when.

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