BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Seven-thousand Brevard County families are learning there's a dangerous chemical in their water. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) told WFTV the chemical could lead to cancer.
Even though the county said the water is safe to drink, residents are ditching tap water and turning to bottled water.
Whether it came from the tap, a hose, a school or a restaurant, all the water in Mims is tainted with a dangerous chemical that can cause cancer and birth defects.
Residents WFTV spoke with said they are scared.
"What am I going to tell my kids? Kids you've been exposed to this and when you turn 19 you might die," resident Robert Brothers said.
It called Trihalomethane (THM), and it's been in drinking water for at least two months now.
"Have you been notified?" WFTV reporter Q. McCray asked Brothers.
"Nobody never told us," he replied.
WFTV spoke to Brevard's Director of Water Resources Richard Martens, who said a notice was sent to all 7,000 affected customers about two weeks ago. It explains that THM is a produced by-product of the chlorine used to disinfect drinking water at a treatment plant in Mims.
In an effort to keep up with new EPA guidelines, too much was added to the water.
According to the DEP, there's no immediate need for concern, no matter your health level or age. Unlike bacteria and viruses that can cause sickness quickly, customers would have to consume THM for decades to put their health at risk.
Nevertheless, the THM is still in the water. The county said it will have things back in order shortly.
WFTV
