DELAND, Fla.,None — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) said it found a cancer causing chemical in reclaimed water in DeLand.
The agency found the chemical, Dieldrin in the water used to irrigate the Country Club Estates golf course. The chemical was commonly used as a pesticide in the 1970s and 80s.
Previous tests found the chemical in 133 private wells surrounding the golf course. It was believed the chemical was isolated to those wells.
The city treats sewage and then mixes it with storm water and St. John's River water to create the reclaimed water. It is then pumped out to DeLand residents to use for irrigation.
Schools, public parks and Stetson University use the water for irrigation.
"The kids, they stretch, they're rolling all over that grass," said Belinda Gregory, a DeLand parent.
DeLand High School student athletes said they regularly drink from irrigation hoses on school property after workouts.
"It does worry me," said Briana Gregory, a DeLand student. "I didn't know anything about it."
Reclaimed water is not meant to be consumed.
DeLand city leaders urged residents not to panic.
"We've spoken to the health department," said Keith Riger, Public Services Director. "We believe that concentration, as low as it is, is not a problem."
Researchers say Dieldrin can build up in the body and affect the nervous system. The EPA classifies it as a carcinogen, despite no evidence linking it to cancer.
Dieldrin was banned by the government in 1987.
Residents feared the reclaimed water could seep into their private wells.
FDEP will test additional reclaimed water throughout DeLand starting next week. The results are expected back by the end of December.