BITHLO, Fla.,None — Environmental officials say a local gas station is contaminating the water for thousands of Bithlo residents.
County leaders said they can connect water and sewer lines to the Bithlo area to help the problem, but some residents said they don't want that fix.
There's a new push to run water lines to the Bithlo area of Orange County. All of the 8,600 people who live in the area have wells and use septic tanks, and only 30 percent of those have water filters.
Timothy McKinney has a business in the area and says that has to change because the water supply is contaminated.
"I don't think it's a mystery. If you spend any time out here, the water quality in Bithlo is horrific," McKinney said.
The state environmental protection department said petroleum is leaking out of underground storage tanks at a local Conoco gas station. Petroleum is the primary cause for the water contamination.
Studies have determined long-term exposure to the chemicals can cause cancer.
The state EPD and the new owners of the gas station are working to clean up the contamination, but the department is also worried hazardous waste from the nearby junkyards can also create problems.
"There's contamination from the closed recycle center," Orange County Commissioner Ted Edwards said.
But resident Louann Wilcox isn't concerned about the health issues. She said she has a filter and doesn't want a water bill.
"We don't want extra taxes, we don't want to pay. We are doing fine with our own water," Wilcox said.
The county isn't sure how it will be able to pay the $10 million to $16 million it will cost to run the lines.
To offset the cost for the county, residents could also have to pay a $7,000 to $10,000 fee to connect to the water line.
The county is looking at grants to help fund the project. The mayor has scheduled a community meeting on Dec. 1 on this issue.
WFTV