NEIC
/ EPA-330/1-84-001
SOUTH FLORIDA DRINKING WATER INVESTIGATION
BPOWARD, DADE AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES
June 1984
National Enforcement Investigations Center, Denver
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Enforcement
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE MONITORING
EPA-330/1-84-001
SOUTH FLORIDA DRINKING WATER INVESTIGATION
BPOWARD, DADE AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES
June 1984
James R. Vincent
NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS CENTER
Denver, Colorado
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This comprehensive study of public drinking water supplies in south
Florida would not have been possible without the cooperation and assistance
of various Federal, State and local agencies, water utilities, private firms
and individuals. The contributions of all of these entities are gratefully
acknowledged.
A major portion of the study was conducted by National Enforcement
Investigations Center personnel. This included most of the compilation and
evaluation of existing data, preparation of reports, sampling of about half
of the public water supplies and groundwater monitoring wells, sampling of
selected industrial facilities and analytical support for these sampling
activities. EPA Region IV in Atlanta, Georgia, (Water Management Division)
provided overall project coordination and contributed existing information.
Other EPA divisions in Atlanta also contributed information. Region IV’s
Environmental Services Division in Athens, Georgia, conducted the other
half of the water supply and well sampling and provided associated analyti-
cal support. EPA’s Office of Drinking Water in Cincinnati, Ohio, provided
data and conducted field testing of water treatment equipment, including
analytical support. Other Federal agency support was provided by U.S. Geo-
logical Survey offices in Tallahassee and Miami that furnished information
and well sampling equipment.
Major data inputs were provided by the Florida Department of Environ-
mental Regulation through their central office in Tallahassee and the South-
east Florida District office in West Palm Beach. The District office pro-
vided local coordination in the study area.
Three local agencies provided file information, assisted in selection
of water supplies to be sampled and provided direct assistance in the EPA
sampling of water supplies. These were the Dade County Department of Pub-
lic Health, the Broward County Public Health Unit and the Palm Beach County
Health Department, all associated with the Florida Department of Health and
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Rehabilative Services. The Broward County Environmental Quality Control
Board provided file information and assisted in the sampling of monitoring
wells and industrial facilities. The Metropolitan Dade County Department
of Environmental Resources Management provided extensive file information
and references.
Various water utilities, municipalities and water supply owners cooper-
ated in the water supply sampling and provided well data.
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CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
II. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .
III. BACKGROUND
DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA
PREVIOUS STUDIES
STUDY METHODS
I-’
II-’
IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
GROUNDWATER
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
V SOURCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION
POINT SOURCES
NON-POINT SOURCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
TABLES
FIGURES
VI-1
VI-1
VI-3
VI-5
• . VI-6
• . VI-7
VI-9
• . 1—2
111-2
111-4
111-6
11 1—7
• • 111-10
111-12
111-14
• IV-19
IV-21
IV-26
• IV-42
IV-43
IV-44
• IV-45
• IV-46
IV-47
IV-48
IV-49
A PRIMARY AND SECONDAY DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
B GROUNDWATER QUALITY CRITERIA
1 1 1-1
III- ’
111-19
111-28
IV- 1
IV- 2
IV—28
V - i
V- 2
V-21
VI. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL PROGRAMS
DRINKING WATER
GROUNDWATER . • • • -
SURFACE WATER
WASTEWATER DISCHARGES •
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL
LAND USE . .
REFERENCES
1 Community Water Supplies with VOC Levels Exceeding Criteria .
2 Non-Community Water Supplies with VOC Levels Exceeding Criteria
3 Summary of Public Water Supplies . . . . . .
4 Observed VOC Concentration in Selected Water Supplies and Weilfields
S Observed Levels of VOCs in Water Supplies . • .
6 Observed Levels of VOCs In Non-Community Water Supplies •
7 Results of VOC Sampling at Selected Industrial Facilities
1 Study Area
2 Dade County Study Area
3 Broward County Study Area
4 Palm Beach County Study Area
5 TypIcal Cross-Section of the Biscayne Aquifer
6 Areal Extent of Biscayne and Coastal Aquifers . .
7 Surface Geology of the Study Area
8 Hydrologic Features . . . .
9 Observed VOC Contamination of Dade County Weilfields
10 Biscayne Aquifer (Superfund) Study Area
11 Broward County Groundwater Monitoring Wells
12 Community Water Supplies Sampled in Dade County . . .
13 Community Water Supplies Sampled in Broward County
14 Community Water Supplies Sampled in South Palm Beach County •
15 Community Water Supplies Sampled in North Palm Beach County .
16 Non-Community Water Supplies Sampled in Dade County
17 Non-Community Water Supplies Sampled in Broward County . . • .
18 Non-Community Water Supplies Sampled in South Palm Beach County
19 Non-Cmmrunity Water Supplies Sampled in North Palm Beach County
APPENDICES
h-i
11—6
111—18
P1-8
IV-34
IV- 39
V- 10
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I-1
I. INTRODUCTION
Drinking water supplies for about 3.5 million persons in the Miami-Fort
Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area of southeast Florida are obtained from ground-
water underlying the metropolitan areas. Various studies by Federal, State
and local agencies during the past decade have detected synthetic organic
chemicals in this groundwater and, in some cases, in public drinking water
supplies. Data on chemical contamination were available for less than a
fourth of the major public water supplies. The observed levels and frequency
of occurrence of chemical contamination in these supplies, however, were
such that there was public and regulatory agency concern about the signifi-
cance and areawide scope of the contamination. Data on sources of the con-
tamination were limited, increasing uncertainty and concern. There was,
therefore, the need for a comprehensive investigation of the scope of chem-
ical contamination of public water supplies, of the sources of such contam-
ination and of associated regulatory programs.
This report presents the results of a year-long study of south Florida
water supplies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in
cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (DER)
and various local agencies. Data are presented on organic chemical contam-
ination of public water supplies compiled from previous studies and EPA
sampling of 218 public supplies in early 1984. An overview is given of
potential sources of chemical contamination based on previous studies, and
data are presented from EPA sampling of selected industrial wastewater dis-
charges to groundwater in 1984. An overview of present environmental con-
trol programs is presented, and recommendations are made for enhancement of
these programs.
The Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach metropolitan areas are
the heart of a major population and economic center that extends for about
100 miles along the Atlantic coast from Homestead to Jupiter [ Figure 1].
This “Gold Coast” has experienced rapid growth since World War [ I, and
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1-3
development continues at a fast pace. In addition to its well known tourism
economy and popularity as a retirement center, the area is a major light
manufacturing center.
All public drinking water supplies (except the city of West Palm Beach)
and the numerous private water supplies are obtained from the highly pro-
ductive Biscayne Aquifer, a sand and limestone aquifer underlying the south-
ern two-thirds of the developed area or from the Coastal Aquifer, a sand
aquifer underlying the northern third of the developed area. These aquifers
have a thickness up to 200 ft and lie immediately below the ground surface.
They are recharged by rainfall infiltration, outflow from the Everglades,
infiltration of surface water from numerous drainage canals, and by waste-
water and surface runoff discharged directly into the ground at numerous
locations. Because the aquifers are highly permeable and near the ground
surface, they are very vulnerable to contamination by pollutants introduced
in the recharge water. Any release of pollutants into the area environment
such as spills or leaks of chemicals, inadequate hazardous waste disposal,
discharge of inadequately treated wastewaters, etc. may result in contami-
nation of groundwater and, in some cases, of drinking water.
Rapid population and economic growth have had detrimental effects on
environmental conditions including groundwater quality. During the 1960s,
rapid growth resulted in a proliferation of small wastewater treatment plants
that often discharged inadequately treated domestic sewage and commercial
and industrial wastewaters to drainage canals. Contaminated surface runoff
from urban and residential areas was also discharged to the canals. As a
result, the canals became eutrophic with seriously degraded water quality.
This surface water quality degradation was the subject of a federal/state
enforcement conference in 1970. During the 1970s, much progress was made
in removing discharges of pollutants from surface waters, and surface water
quality has substantially improved. Unfortunately, however, some of the
pollutants were diverted into the groundwater.
In the past, construction of community sewer systems and water supplies
did not keep pace with the rapid development. As a result, large residen-
tial and commercial areas were often built without community systems and
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1-4
were serviced with individual septic tank systems that discharged pollutants
directly into the aquifer. Although most new developments have community
systems and older areas are gradually being sewered, some sizeable developed
areas are still not served by community sewer systems. These are often the
same areas that are served by private water supplies. This increases the
potential for contamination of these water supplies.
Large volumes of garbage, trash, septic tank sludges, industrial waste
and hazardous waste were generated that required disposal. Early disposal
practices involved open dumps, seepage pits, and other practices that al-
lowed pollutants to leach directly into the groundwater. Recent investiga-
tions have identified several localized areas of significant groundwater
contamination attributable to these inadequate disposal practices.
Regulation of public water supplies traditionally has been directed
toward assuring that the sanitary (bacterial contamination) and chemical
(primarily inorganic) quality of water supplies are within regulatory limits
designed to protect public health. Water supplies are routinely monitored
for these parameters. Water treatment is provided to ensure delivery of
acceptable quality water to the consumer. In general, area water supplies
are of adequate quality.
Beginning in the 1970s, several developments of national scope occurred
that were to impact area water supplies. Sophisticated analytical techniques
were developed that allowed the detection of various synthetic organic chem-
icals at very small concentrations (low parts per billion or ppb). At the
same time, health research suggested ingestion of some organic chemicals at
the low ppb levels found in drinking water could have adverse health affects.
A national screening survey by EPA in 1974 detected significant levels of
previously undetected organic chemicals in various public water supplies,
including the single supply tested in Miami. This led to additional study
of water supplies at the national and local levels, especially in the late
1970s and continuing to the present. At the local level, sampling of water
supplies in Dade County for organic chemicals began in 1977 and was expanded
to include Broward and Palm Beach Counties in 1981 and 1982. By 1983, avail-
able data were adequate to indicate that both the level of contamination
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1-5
and frequency of occurrence of several volatile organic chemicals were such
to be of concern to environmental agencies. Of about 250 public water sup-
ply wells sampled, nearly 20% were found to be contaminated with one or
more volatile organic chemicals at a concentration of 1 ppb or greater.
Most of the wells sampled were in Oade County, but observed levels and fre-
quency of contamination were similar in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
Although 250 wells were a substantial number, they represented only a
small fraction of the area’s several thousand public and private wells.
The scope of the presence of volatile organic chemicals in area water sup-
plies was thus only partially defined. Sources of contamination of some
wells had been defined, but in most cases, only general conclusions could
be drawn. State and local agencies began developing regulatory approaches
to deal with known sources of pollution.
In mid-1983, the Water Management Division, EPA Region IV in Atlanta,
Georgia (the EPA unit with overview responsibilities for public water sup-
plies in Florida) conducted a preliminary review of readily available infor-
mation on organic chemical contamination of south Florida public water sup-
plies. The review indicated the need for a systematic study of south Flo-
rida to fully define the scope of the problem, potential sources of con-
tamination, and regulatory approaches for assuring adequate drinking water
quality. In June 1983, Region IV requested technical assistance from the
National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) in conducting the study.
Objectives
A four—phase study was designed by NEIC to meet the following objectives:
1. Define the scope of contamination of drinking water supplies with
synthetic organic chemicals.
2. Define major sources of groundwater contamination impacting drink-
ing water supplies.
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1-6
3. Identify past, present and proposed remedial measures, abatement
actions and control programs for protection of drinking water
quality.
4. Identify what additional and/or revised remedial measures and/or
abatement programs/actions appear to be needed to minimize contam-
ination of groundwater and to maximize protection of drinking
water supplies.
Study Phases
The four phases of the study were as follows:
1. An evaluation of existing information to determine the current
status of knowledge of area environmental conditions with empha-
sis on groundwater and drinking water quality. This phase defined
the data needed to meet the study objectives.
2. An areawide evaluation of groundwater and drinking water quality
to define the scope of groundwater and drinking water contamina-
tion. Sampling and analysis of public water supplies and ground-
water were conducted as necessary to supplement existing data.
3. A limited investigation of potential sources of groundwater con-
tamination to supplement previous studies.
4. An evaluation of water treatment procedures useful in removing
synthetic organic chemicals from drinking water. Additional water
treatment may be necessary for supplies where pollution sources
cannot be identified and/or controlled and alternate water sup-
plies are not available.
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Scope
Geographically, the study focused on the eastern developed portions of
Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties [ Figure 1]. This area extends along
the Atlantic coast for about 100 miles from Homestead to Jupiter and encom-
passes a population of about 3.5 million persons in the Miami, Fort Lauder-
dale and West Palm Beach metropolitan areas and adjacent communities.
The scope of the initial phase of the study consisted of an evaluation
of available data and information compiled from the published literature,
from Federal, State and local agency files, and from interviews with key
personnel in these regulatory and water resource agencies.
During the second phase, most (135) of the public community water sup-
plies in the study area were sampled. Finished water supplies were sampled
at all facilities, and raw water samples were obtained when aeration was
present in the treatment system. About 15% (83) of the public non-community
supplies were sampled. No private water supplies were sampled. Sixty
groundwater monitoring wells in Broward County were sampled.
The third phase was directed to the confirmation of the contamination
potential of industrial wastewater discharges to groundwater from facilities
using or handling significant amounts of volatile organic chemicals. Waste-
water discharges and groundwater were sampled at six selected electronic
component manufacturing and metal finishing plants.
The fourth phase of the study involved an evaluation of the use of
packed tower aeration units to remove volatile organic chemicals from con-
taminated water supplies by air stripping. This phase of the study is being
conducted by EPA’s Office of Drinking Water in Cincinnati, Ohio. Field
tests of aeration units have been completed on contaminated well water in
Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Riviera Beach. Technical reports presenting the
results of this research are in preparation and will be released later this
year.
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1-8
Existing data on synthetic organic chemicals in groundwater and public
water supplies in south Florida, available at the start of this study, indi-
cated that a group of chemicals referred to as volatile organic chemcials
(VOCs) were most frequently detected and were usually present at the highest
concentration. In addition, other synthetic organic chemicals were usually
not present in significant concentrations without VOCs also being present.
Selected VOCs were also the chemicals of most concern from a public health
aspect, and drinking water standards were under development to define the
significance of observed levels of contamination. By limiting water sam-
pling and analyses to VOCs only, available study resources could screen the
maximum number of water supplies. For these reasons, this study was primar-
ily focused on volatile organic chemicals.
For purposes of this study, volatile organic chemicals are defined as
those synthetic organic chemicals that can be analyzed for by purge and
trap methods. These include three general groups of chemicals: trihalometh-
anes, aromatics and other VOCs. Trihamomethanes are formed in drinking
water by the chlorination of naturally-occurring organic chemicals found in
south Florida groundwaters. They are of public health concern when found
at high levels in drinking water but are rarely present in significant
levels in groundwater. Aromatics of concern are benzene and toluene which
are always an indication of groundwater contamination, frequently by petro-
leum products. The VOCs of most concern are trichioroethylene (also known
as trichloroethene or TCE), a common degreasing solvent; tetrachioroethylene
(also known as perchloroethylene or PCE), a dry cleaning chemical and degreas-
ing solvent; and 1,1,1-trichioroethane, also a degreasing solvent. These
three VOCs are believed to be the source of much of the VOC contamination
of groundwater and public water supplies. Other commonly detected VOCs
include the following that are believed to primarily occur as the result of
biodegradation of the three main solvents: vinylidene chloride (1,1-dichlo
roethene), ethylene dichloride (1,2-dichioroethane), vinyl chloride and
cis— or trans-1,2-dichloroethene.
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1-9
Report Organization
Section II summarizes the findings of the study including the known
extent of groundwater and drinking water contamination, other environmental
conditions and problems affecting drinking water quality, known and suspected
sources of contamination and environmental pollution and existing environmen-
tal control programs.
Background data are presented in Section III including a description
of the study area, summaries of selected previous studies and study methods.
Environmental conditions are discussed in Section IV. General groundwater
and drinking water quality are discussed and specific information presented
on synthetic organic chemical contamination as defined by previous studies
and the EPA sampling of 218 public water supplies and 60 groundwater moni-
toring wells. Other environmental conditions impacting drinking water sup-
plies are discussed.
There are numerous known and potential sources of groundwater contarni—
nation. Section V discusses the various types of sources and presents esti-
mates of the potential number and magnitude of each type of source. Detailed
source inventories are not presented, however, as these are beyond the scope
of study. Data are presented on the industrial wastewater discharges to
groundwater sampled by EPA.
Environmental control programs at the Federal, State and local levels
are discussed in Section VI.
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h-i
II. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Drinking Water
Sampling of essentially all public community water supplies with their
own welifields in the study area showed that finished drinking water at
four supplies (North Miami Beach-Sunny Isles Plant, Pompano Beach, Riviera
Beach and Seacoast Utilities-Richard Road plant) contained volatile organic
chemicals (VOCs) that slightly exceed Florida maximum contaminant levels
that take effect June 1985. These four supplies serve about 290,000 persons
(8% of study area population) and represent less than 3% of community sup-
plies. An additional 18 supplies had detectable levels of VOCs in finished
water. Five of these supplies, serving about 130,000 persons [ Table 1]
contained VOCs in excess of screening criteria used by this study to iden-
tify significant levels of contamination. Five supplies had detectable
levels of VOCs in this raw water but they were removed by treatment. Lev-
els of VOCs in the 27 supplies with detectable amounts were in the range of
1 to 58 pg/i (parts per billion) with most supplies containing amounts less
than 5 pg/L
The observed levels of VOCs in finished drinking water represent a
major reduction during the last 2 years in the number of persons receiving
drinking water with VOC5 in excess of the new Florida maximum contaminant
levels. About 1.3 million persons were served by systems with excess VOC
levels in 1982. Completion of the Northwest Welifield supplying Miami-Dade
Water and Sewer Authority’s Hialeah and Preston treatment plants, which
serve about 500,000 persons in Miami and northeast Dade County, has reduced
VOC levels in this system to below maximum contaminant levels. The Hialeah-
Preston system must still make selective use of wells in older weilfields
with elevated VOC levels in order to meet seasonal water demands. The Five
Ash water system, which serve about 180,000 persons in Fort Lauderdale, has
reduced VOC levels to below detection by shutting down and/or making selec-
tive use of contaminated wells in the Executive wel1field and by special
water treatment. Contaminated wells have been taken out of service at
Riviera Beach and Hallandale.
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11—2
Table 1
COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLIES WITH VOC LEVELS EXCEEDING CRITERIA
System
Population
Raw
Finished
Name
City Served
Water
Water
BROWARD COUNTY
Broadview Park Water Co. Plantation 6,000 NSa THMb
Broadview Utilities Co. Pompano Beach 6,000 NS THM
Broward Correctional Institute Pembroke Pines 500 NS THM
Cooper City Utilities East Cooper City 10,000 NS THM
Cooper City Utilities West Cooper City 3,000 NS THM
Coral Springs, City of Coral Springs 26,000 NS THM
Crystal Lakes MHP Ft. Lauderdale 125 NS THM
Dania, City of Dania 12,500 NDC filM
Ferncrest Utilities Ft. Lauderdale 5,500 NS THM
Ft. Lauderdale, City of Ft. Lauderdale
(Five Ash WTP) 180,000 XM* ND
Gulf Stream Utility Co. Plantation 21,000 NS D,THM
Miramar, City of Miramar 33,500 0 d THM
Parkland Utilities Parkiand 830 NS THM
Pembroke Pines, City of (#1) Hollywood 50,500 NS THM
Pembroke Pines, City of (#2) Pembroke Pines NS THM
Pembroke Pines, City of
(Holly Lake) Hollywood 310 NS D,THM
Pompano Beach, City of Pompano Beach 70,500 NS XMe
Seminole Industries Hollywood 100 NS THM
Taylor Trailer Park Ft. Lauderdale 100 NS THM
DADE COUNTY
Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Auth.
(Hialeah-Preston System) Miami 500,000 XM** XS
N. Miami, City of (Winson) N. Miami 65,900 XS XS
N. Miami Beach, City of N. Miami Beach 125,000
(Norwood) NS THM
(Sunny Isles) NS XM
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Table 1 (contd)
11-3
System
Population
Raw
Finished
Name
City Served
Water
Water
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Acme Improvement Dist.
Akers Away Trailer Park
Arrowhead Village MHP
Atlantis Utilities
Boca Raton, City of
Century Village (Century Util.)
Colonial Estates MHP
Consolidated Utilities
Florida Water Service
(Seminole Manor)
Highland Beach Water Plant
Jamaica Bay MHP
Juno Beach Mobile Court
Kokomo MHP
Lake Worth Village MHP
Loxahatchee Road Prison
Manalapan Water Dept.
Meadowbrook
Palm Beach Co. - ECR #2
Palm Beach Co. - ECR #3
Palm Beach Co. - SCR #1
Palm Beach Co. - SCR #2
Riviera Beach, City of
Royal Manor MHP
Royal Palm Beach Utilities
Seacoast Utilities
(Richard Road)
(Hood Road)
(Lilac Street)
Village of Golf
Wellington
W. Palm Beach
Lantana
Atlantis
Boca Raton
W. Palm Beach
Del ray Beach
W. Palm Beach
W. Palm Beach
XM XM
NS XS
XS ND
3,500 MS THM
) . ,
8,700
210
825
2,750
65,000
16,000
540
2,500
3,700
4,200
750
120
245
1,200
86
2,100
7,000
27,300
30,100
2,300
23,800
38,000
800
7,800
59,400
ND THM
NS THM
NS THM
ND THM
NS XS
MS THM
MS THM
ND THM
NS THM
NS THM
MS TIIM
NS XS
NS THM
MS THM
XS XS
ND THM
ND THM
XS THM
ND THM
MS THM
NS THM
XM XM,THM
NS THM
ND THM
Boca Raton
Boynton Beach
Juno Beach
Lake Worth
Lake Worth
W. Palm Beach
Manalapan
W. Palm Beach
W. Palm Beach
W. Palm Beach
W. Palm Beach
W. Palm Beach
Riviera Beach
Boynton Beach
Royal Palm Beach
Palm Beach Gardens
Boynton Beach
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‘‘-4
a NS - Raw water was not sampled at this system.
b TWM - Observed total concentration of trihalomethanes exceeds the maximum contarn-
inant level of 100 pg/i applicable to systems serving 10,000 persons or more.
c ND - VOCs not detected at the level of detection for the analytical methods used.
d D - VOCs detected but below screening criteria.
e XM - Observed VOC levels exceed one or more maximum contaminant limits.
f XS - Observed VOC levels exceed one or more screening criteria.
* Composite raw water from Prospect and Executive wellfields did not contain detect-
able VOCs. Some wells in Executive wellfield used on a seasonal basis exceed max-
imum contaminant levels.
** Raw water from Hialeah, Preston and Miami Springs wellfields exceeds VOC MCLs.
VOCs not detected in Northwest weilfield raw water. Composite raw water with main
supply from Northwest does not exceed criteria. Finished water meets screening
criteria if supply from Northwest exceeds 9O0/ of raw water.
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11—5
Sampling of the community water supplies also detected levels of tn-
halomethanes in 39 supplies in Broward and Palm Beach Counties in excess of
the maximum contaminant level of 100 pg/i [ Table 1]. One supply in Dade
County had excess levels of trihalomethanes. Tnihalomethanes are synthetic
organic chemicals formed during water treatment by the chlorination of nat-
urally occurring groundwater pollutants. Most large water supplies have
recently reduced trihalomethane levels to meet maximum contaminant levels.
Eleven of the 40 supplies are required to meet these regulations. Trihalo-
methane levels can be reduced by modifications of the treatment procedures.
About 15% of the more than 500 non-community water supplies in the
study area were screened for VOC contamination. Non-community supplies
serve office buildings, shopping centers, restaurants, schools, etc. Five
of the 83 non-community supplies sampled had VOC levels in finished water
in excess of the maximum contaminant levels applicable to the community
systems [ Table 2]. An additional 16 supplies had detectable levels of VOCs
ranging from 1 to 74 pg/i. Nine non-community supplies had elevated THM
levels [ Table 2].
The three non-community supplies sampled in the Medley area with known
groundwater contamination all had significant VOC levels. Because most
non-community supplies have relatively small and shallow wells, observed
frequencies and levels of VOC contamination may be somewhat representative
of private wells which were not sampled during this study. The data suggest
the need for a systematic screening of private and non-community supply
wells in areas with known groundwater contamination to detect any water
supplies with unacceptable VOC levels.
Cis-1,2-dichloroethene was the VOC most frequently detected in water
supplies. Other compounds detected in a number of supplies included 1,2-
dichioroethane (ethylene dichioride), trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chlor-
ide and tetrachloroethylene. TCE and tetrachloroethylene are chlorinated
solvents commonly used as degreasers, dry cleaners and for other manufac-
turing and repair processes. The other compounds are believed to be present
in south Florida groundwater as biodegradation products of-the chlorinated
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11-6
Table 2
NON-COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLIES WITH VOC LEVELS EXCEEDING CRITERIA
System
Population
Raw
Finished
Name
City Served
Water
Water
BROWARD COUNTY
Everglades Holiday Park Ft. Lauderdale 180 NSa THMb
Pompano Turnpike Plaza Ft. Lauderdale 5,000 NS THM
DADE COUNTY
Century 21 Medley 25 NS *
Levine, S.L., Red Sunset Bldg. Coral Gables 726 NS XMC
Motor Service Medley 41 NS THM*
Westland Country Club Hialeah 70 NS THM
Wollard Aircraft Medley 120 NS
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Everglades Youth Camp W. Palm Beach 150 NDd THM
Frat House Restaurant W. Palm Beach 400 NS XM
Hagen Road Elementary School W. Palm Beach 200 NS THM
Lake Worth Raquet Club Lake Worth 137 NS XM
Lion Country Safari W. Palm Beach 500 NS THM
Pratt-Whitney Aircraft W. Palm Beach 6,000 XM THM
Short Stop Convenience W. Palm Beach 25 NS THM
Sunshine Preschool Palm Beach Gardens 25 NS XM
a NS - Raw water not sampled at this system.
b THM - Total trihalomethanes exceeds maximum contaminant level of 100 pg/2 applicable
to community supplies.
c KM - Observed VOC levels exceed one or more maximum contaminant levels applicable
to community supplies.
d ND - VOCs not detected at limit of detection for analytical methods used.
* Sample contaminated with low levels of benzene, toluene and xylene compounds.
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11-7
solvents. Benzene, toluene and xylene compounds were detected in some
supplies. These compounds may originate from petroleum products entering
groundwater.
Sampling of finished water and individual supply wells by previous
studies has demonstrated that monitoring of finished water (or composite
raw water when aeration is present in the water treatment) is adequate to
detect any significant VOC contamination of individual wells. At least
annual monitoring of water supplies for VOCs appears to be needed for well-
fields near industrial facilities to ensure that any new contamination
exceeding maximum contaminant levels is detected in a timely manner.
Limited data developed by this study indicate that aerators used by a
number of water treatment plants in the study area achieve greater than 80%
reductions in the levels of most VOCs present in raw water. Additional
detailed technical studies of aerators being conducted by EPA will provide
data on several supplies in the study area within a few months.
Groundwater
An extensive area of the Biscayne Aquifer in the Miami Springs, Hia-
leah, Miami International Airport, Medley vicinity is contaminated with
volatile organic chemicals ranging up to as much as a hundred times in excess
of the new Florida maximum contaminant levels for drinking water. Special
treatment of this groundwater, such as aeration or activated carbon filtra-
tion, would be necessary for it to achieve drinking water standards. Until
late 1983, this groundwater was the main source of the Hialeah-Preston water
supply serving much of Miami and northeast Dade County. Portions of the
Biscayne Aquifer in North Miami and North Miami Beach in northeast Dade
County also have elevated VOC levels. Small scattered areas of groundwater
contaminated with VOCs have been detected at other Dade County locations.
This contamination has adversely impacted major water supplies and has forced
the expenditure of millions of dollars for new weilfields, system modifica-
tions and increased water treatment. Data are inadequate to define if the
contaminated areas are stable in size or are continuing to -expand.
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11-8
In Broward County, the most significant contamination is in the Bis-
cayne Aquifer in an area around the east end of the Fort Lauderdale Execu-
tive Airport. This contamination has spread into a portion of Fort Lauder-
dale’s Executive welifield. Contamination as high as 2,000 times maximum
contaminant levels has been detected in water supply wells. The contami-
nated area appears to still be expanding. Other areas of groundwater con-
tamination appear to be small and scattered, primarily at industrial facil-
ities. Groundwater contamination in Palm Beach County has been detected
only in scattered small areas, primarily in industrial areas in the north
part of the county. However, the frequency of occurrence of contamination
appears to be increasing and contamination may be spreading in wellfields
where already present.
The VOCs of most concern that have been detected in groundwater are
the chlorinated solvents trichioroethylene, tetrachioroethylene and 1,1,1-
trichioroethane. They are very mobile in groundwater, have been detected
at concentrations as high as 1,000 pg/.Q in groundwater and can pose signifi-
cant health risks at low levels. Of equal concern are the biodegradation
products of these solvents including vinylidene chloride, ethylene dichlo-
ride and vinyl chloride. These VOCs are also present at elevated levels in
contaminated groundwaters and can present significant health risks at low
levels. Various benzene, toluene and xylene compounds have been detected
in contaminated groundwater at some locations. These compounds frequently
originate from petroleum product contamination of groundwater. Vinyl chlo-
ride and benzene are human carcinogens. Some other VOCs are suspected animal
and/or human carcinogens.
SOURCES OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
Industrial manufacturing plants are considered the most important
sources of VOC contamination of groundwater. Contamination can occur from
spills or leaks of raw materials or products, from discharges of industrial
wastewaters to ground disposal and from the inadequate handling or disposal
of hazardous wastes. Of about 2,200 manufacturing plants in the study area,
about one-third have the potential to be significant sources of VOCs because
of their use or handling of chlorinated solvents. Most of these plants are
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11-9
in the electronic and electrical component, chemicals, fabricated metals
and machinery industrial categories. These facilities tend to be grouped
in industrial areas that increase the probability of groundwater contamina-
tion in that vicinity. The worst groundwater contamination has been observed
in the vicinity of older industrial areas that were initially not served by
public sewer systems. There are several hundred commercial facilities,
primarily dry cleaners and auto repair shops, that also use chlorinated
solvents and may be significant sources of VOC contamination.
Investigations by EPA, DER and local agencies have documented VOC con-
tamination of groundwater at sites where industrial wastewaters are being
or have been discharged to groundwater from electronic component manufactur-
ing and metal finishing plants and other facilities that use or handle chlo-
rinated solvents. These results indicate that there may be other sites
where past discharges of industrial wastewaters may have contributed to
localized areas of groundwater contamination that may still be present.
Some of these sites may have been properly closed but groundwater at most
has never been sampled for VOCs. Adequate monitoring wells are probably
not available at many of these sites.
Monitoring results from several groundwater contamination sites where
deeper monitoring wells were available suggest that the 10 to 20-foot deep
monitoring wells commonly used at most wastewater disposal sites may not be
adequate to detect migration offsite of VOC contamination. VOC contami-
nation extending downward through much of the 100+ feet aquifer thickness
has been detected at several sites.
Many of the industrial and commercial facilities in the study area
that use or handle VOCs generate hazardous wastes. Many of these facil-
ities are exempt from full RCRA regulation because they are small quantity
generators, store hazardous wastes for less than 90 days or recycle their
wastes. EPA, State and local agency visits to some of these exempt facili-
ties have found poor practices that could result in VOC contamination of
groundwater. Dade County has initiated an inspection program to deal spe-
cifically with this problem.
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11-10
Hazardous wastes have been disposed of at at least 50 sites in the
study area. These include industrial plant sites and municipal landfills.
Groundwater contamination is known or believed to be present at most of
these sites and several have been linked to actual or potential contamina-
tion of water supply welifields. Detailed site assessments have been com-
pleted at some sites and others are underway.
There are eight hazardous waste sites in the study area that are on
the National Priority List for remedial action under “Superfund”. Four of
these are in the area surrounding the Hialeah-Preston welifields. Surface
and near-surface cleanup has been completed at the Miami Drum site. Some
removal of contamination was accomplished and hydrocarbon recovery is pro-
gressing at the large Varsol cleaning solvent spill site at Miami Inter-
national Airport. All hazardous disposal activities have ceased at the
large 58th Street Municipal Landfill and a closure plan is under review by
regulatory authorities. An immediate removal action was taken at Pepper’s
Steel and Alloy after site contamination was discovered. Further site
cleanup is anticipated.
Two other Superfund sites are in other areas of Dade County. Surface
cleanup has been completed by the site owner at Gold Coast Oil, a closed
solvent recycling facility in west Miami. No remedial actions have been
taken at Munisport, a privately operated but municipally owned landfill in
North Miami. Remedial investigations are continuing.
Two Superfund sites are in Broward County. Groundwater contamination
has been detected at Davie Landfill, a large county-owned municipal land-
fill west of Hollywood. No remedial actions have been completed but the
sludge lagoon contributing contamination of concern is no longer operable.
At the Hollingsworth Solderless Terminal Company site in Ft. Lauderdale,
high levels of VOC contamination have been detected. A remedial investiga-
tion and feasibility study has been completed and is under review by regu-
latory agencies. This is the highest priority Superfund site in the study
area for remedial actions because of its apparent contribution to contamina-
tion of the Ft. Lauderdale Executive weilfield.
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‘I-il
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL PROGRAMS
Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for eight VOCs in drinking water,
which take effect in June 1985, have been promulgated by the Florida Depart-
ment of Environmental Regulation (DER). These regulations will be a key
element in protection of both drinking water and groundwater from VOC con-
tamination. They also provide a measure of the significance of observed
VOC contamination.
All discharges of industrial wastewaters to surface or groundwaters
must obtain a permit from DER. Most of the permits for existing discharges
contain effluent limitations and conditions developed prior to the avail-
ability of information on the potential for VOC contamination of such dis-
charges. The permits do not limit discharges of VOCs or require effluent
and groundwater monitoring for VOCs.
All facilities that treat, store or dispose of hazardous wastes are
required to meet various regulatory requirements prescribed by the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Active facilities that do not have
final RCRA permits have “interim status” that require them to meet certain
minimum administrative and technical provisions. Final permits place more
stringent requirements on hazardous waste facilities and minimize the poten-
tial for releases into the environment. Some facilities that handle signi-
ficant amounts of VOCs are exempt from full RCRA regulation.
Local environmental and public health agencies, along with DER, have
been active in the inspection of potential sources of VOC contamination,
compliance monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations. There
has been substantial activity in the last few years to develop State and
local regulations specific to the protection of groundwater and public water
suppi ies.
Both Broward and Dade Counties have developed regulations and ordnances
that control the use and handling of hazardous materials in the vicinity of
public water supply welifields. Such regulations reduce the potential for
new contamination of water supplies. An active inspection and enforcement
program is key to the success of this regulatory approach.
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11-12
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Individual wells should be sampled at all multiple-well public water
supplies for which VOC contamination has been detected by this study
to determine if major contamination is present in any well. Single
well supplies for which significant contamination (exceeds screening
criteria or maximum contaminant levels) was detected should be resampled
to verify the observed levels of VOCs.
2. Water supplies for which VOCs exceed maximum contaminant levels in
finished drinking water should initiate steps to lower VOC levels below
maximum contaminant levels as soon as practical but no later than June 1,
1985, for systems serving more than 1,000 persons or January 1, 1987
for smaller systems. Ideally, VOC levels should be reduced to less
than analytical detection limits.
3. Appropriate actions should be initiated by the 40 community water sup-
plies in Table 1 with elevated THM levels to reduce THMs to below the
maximum contaminant level. This is required by regulation for the 11
large systems and is desirable from a public health viewpoint for all
systems. The nine non-community supplies in Table 2 with elevated THM
levels should also give consideration to reducing their THM levels.
4. Consideration should be given to the screening of all non-community
and private water supply wells in areas with known groundwater con-
tamination to determine if significant VOC contamination is present in
any supply.
5. Whenever significant contamination of a well or water supply is detec-
ted, followup investigations should be conducted to detect the possible
sources of contamination. The investigation should attempt to deter-
mine if there is an active source of contamination that can be abated
or if remedial action for a past contamination incident is needed.
6. Permits for discharges of industrial wastewaters to surface or ground-
waters from facilities handling VOCs should contain effluent limita-
tions on VOCs. The effluents and receiving groundwaters should be
routinely monitored for VOCs.
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11—13
7. Groundwater monitoring wells and monitoring programs for existing
industrial discharges should be reviewed for adequacy in detecting
migration of VOC contamination from the wastewater disposal site.
This should include consideration of requirements for at least one
deeper monitoring well at each site in addition to the 10 to 20—foot
depth wells commonly used in south Florida.
8. All discharges of industrial wastewaters to groundwater from facilities
handling VOCs should be phased out as soon as practicable. Priority
should be given to discharges in the zone of influence or upgradient
of major public water supply welifields.
9. Groundwater sampling for VOC analyses should be conducted at all
disposal areas for former industrial wastewater discharges to ground-
water from electronic component manufacturing plants, metal finishing
plants or any other facilities using or handling VOCs.
10. In the processing of final RCRA permits for facilities that treat,
store and/or generate hazardous wastes, priority should be given to
facilities near public water supply wellfields.
11. All facilities that use, handle, store or manufacture volatile organic
chemicals, especially trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene and 1,1,1-
trichloroethane, and that are within the zone of influence of public
water supply weilfields should be inspected regularly. This should
include small quantity hazardous waste generators as well as larger
facilities. Continuation and expansion of existing local programs in
this regard are encouraged.
12. The administration and enforcement of local ordinances and regulations
governing the handling and storage of hazardous materials within the
zone of influence of public water supply welifields should give prior-
ity to activities involving the chlorinated solvents trichloroethylene,
tetrachioroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane.
-------
11-14
13. A detailed investigation of the industrial areas to the north and east
of the Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport should be conducted by appro-
priate regulatory agencies to identify and abate sources of VOC
contamination. This should include consideration of subsurface inves-
tigations at sites most likely contaminated and appropriate remedial
actions including aquifer restoration where warranted.
14. Remedial actions should be expedited at the Hollingsworth Solderless
Terminal Company site including recovery and treatment or disposal
of contaminated groundwater at the site to prevent further spread of
this contamination toward public water supply welifields.
15. Preliminary assessments (and remedial investigations where warranted)
should be completed at all known hazardous waste disposal sites in the
study area. Priority should be given to those sites in the vicinity
of public water supply welifields.
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hI-i
III. BACKGROUND
DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA
Cultural Features and Population
Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach are the population centers
of the “Gold Coast”, the urbanized, Atlantic coast portion of Dade, Broward
and Palm Beach Counties in southeastern Florida [ Figure 1]. Situated between
the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Everglades wetlands on the west, the
area is a rapidly growing tourist resort, popular retirement area, and light
manufacturing center. The 1980 population of the three counties was about
3.2 million residents.’ During peak tourist periods, several hundred thou-
sand more persons are present in the area. Essentially all of the develop-
ment and population is confined to the coastal area except in Palm Beach
County where extensive farmland and a small population are located inland.
Dade County has the most extensive development and largest population.
About half of the area population is in Dade County which had a 1980 popu-
lation of 1.6 million.’ Miami and Miami Beach are central to the developed
area [ Figure 2]. Miami Beach is densely populated with numerous resort
facilities, restaurants, hotels and high-rise condominiums. Miami has a
variety of types of development including a central business district and
sprawling areas of typical single-family neighborhoods, luxury homes, low-
rise apartments, commercial areas and industrial areas. These industrial
areas typically contain closely spaced, warehouse type buildings with num-
erous small light manufacturing facilities. Many are electronics and other
high technology type industries.
Most of the older development in Miami is east of the Palmetto Express-
way (State Route 826) and the North-South Expressway (Interstate 95) in
northern Dade County. The area between the Palmetto Expressway and Flo-
rida’s Turnpike (State Route 821) has been developed more recently with
development continuing. Extensive development has been planned for areas
-------
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Figure 2: Dade County Study Area
-------
111-3
inland from the Turnpike where development has recently begun. Major
industrial areas are around Miami International Airport and in the Medley and
North Miami vicinities, although clusters of industrial activity can be
found in much of the north and west portions of Miami.
To the southwest of Miami, development is much lighter between Coral
Gables and Homestead. Communities are relatively small and predominantly
residential with limited industry. This area has extensive agricultural
land where vegetables, fruits and other intensive crops are grown.
Dade County has a total area of about 2,000 square miles of which only
about one-third can be developed. The bulk of the county is in Everglades
National Park and other Everglades wetlands. The developed area is now
about 400 square miles.
Broward County is less developed than Dade County but has many of the
same characteristics and is experiencing rapid growth. Fort Lauderdale and
Hollywood are the major population centers for this county with a 1980 popu-
lation of about 1 million [ Figure 3].’ Development is most extensive in
the south with lighter population densities in the north.
Resort communities are along the coastline with residential, commercial
and industrial areas extending inland. Major industrial areas are around
the Port Everglades harbor area, the Executive and International Airports
and along Interstate 95 between the airports.
Only about a third of Broward County’s 1,200 square miles can be devel-
oped, as the rest of the area is occupied by the Everglades and water con-
servation areas. Present development is less than 300 square miles in a
narrow strip less than 15 miles wide. Agricultural land occupies the north-
west portion of the area available for development.
-------
111-4
Figure 3: Broward County Study Area
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111-5
Palm Beach County is about the same total size as Dade County but has
a much smaller population and level of development. County population in
1980 was about 0.6 million.’ This population was primarily in West Palm
Beach, the largest city, and the coastal resort communities, but a small
population was scattered about the extensive agricultural area of western
Broward County and in the small communities around Lake Okeechobee [ Fig-
ure 13. In the southern portion of the county between Boca Raton and West
Palm Beach, development is primarily confined to a narrow strip between
Interstate 95 and the coast [ Figure 4]. Development extends farther inland
in the West Palm Beach area. Industrial areas are primarily in Riviera
Beach, West Palm Beach and along the Interstate 95 corridor. Agriculture
(vegetables and fruits) occupies much of the land available for development
in eastern Palm Beach County.
Topography
An east-west cross section of the study area taken anywhere between
Miami and West Palm Beach would exhibit similar topography [ Figure 53•2 On
the east, the coastline begins with barrier islands only a few feet above
sea level. These long, narrow islands are separated from the mainland by
shallow estuarine waters such as Biscayne Bay and Lake Worth. Miami Beach
and Palm Beach are built on such islands.
The Atlantic Coastal Ridge, a sandy ridge about 5 to 50 feet above sea
level, extends about 2 to 3 miles inland from the estuaries and northward
from Miami out of the study area. When development began in South Florida,
the coastal ridge was developed first because of its elevation and relatively
dry conditions.
West of the Coastal Ridge, the land surface slopes down to about 5 to
10 feet above sea level. This area was historically all wetlands, but much
of it has been drained and developed for agricultural urban purposes. Large
areas of the Everglades wetlands west of the developed area have been pre-
served in the Everglades National Park or in water conservation areas in
Dade and Broward Counties. In Palm Beach County, a large area of wetlands
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rII-6
Figure 4: Palm Beach County Study
Area
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1 11—7
Figure 5. Typical Cross-Section of the Biscayne Aquifer
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111-8
has been preserved in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Large areas
in the remainder of the county have been drained for agricultural use, pri-
marily sugar cane.
Lake Okeechobee, a large (750 square mile), shallow freshwater lake is
in the northwest corner of Palm Beach County. A number of large drainage
and water supply canals, interconnected by various smaller canals, convey
water south and eastward to the coastal areas.
Climate
The study area has a sub-tropical climate with warm, humid summers and
mild, drier winters. Average annual rainfall is iii the range of 50 to 60
inches, depending on location. A major portion of the rainfall occurs in
intense thunderstorms during the summer and fall, producing distinct wet
and dry seasons. The area is also subject to hurricanes and tropical storms
that can produce more than 12 inches of precipitation a day. These storms
usually occur in the fall.
The peculiarities of the south Florida climate strongly influence both
the quality and quantity of drinking water supplies. Floods and drought
problems occur. This has necessitated the construction of extensive water
management facilities. Surface and groundwater quality and quantity are
closely related. These interrelationships are discussed in the following
section.
Hydrology
Due to the particular geology of south Florida, there are complex
interrelationships between the quantity and quality of surface and ground-
waters in the study areas. Seasonally, the transfer of water between sur-
face waterways and groundwater reverses with groundwater discharging to
drainage canals in the wet season and surface water from the canals recharg-
ing the aquifer during the dry season. This interaction is enhanced by the
operation of the canal system and by withdrawal of groundwater by public
-------
111-9
water supply wells. Proximity to the ocean results in sea water intrusion
into the fresh water canals and aquifers under some conditions. All of
these interactions impact water quality.
The Biscayne Aquifer, a highly productive, unconfined aquifer, under-
lies all of the developed area of Dade and Broward Counties and the south-
east portion of Palm Beach County [ Figure 6].2 The aquifer is wedge-shaped
in cross section [ Figure 5) with its base about 150 to 200 feet below sea
level near the coast and sloping upward to the ground surface in the Ever-
glades. The top of the aquifer is within 5 feet of the ground surface in
most areas. Average thickness in much of the developed area ranges from 80
to 160 feet.
The Biscayne Aquifer is composed of limestone, sandstone and sand.
Southwest of Miami, the aquifer is primarily limestone and sandstone, but
north of Miami the aquifer is primarily sand. The surface of the aquifer
is primarily oolitic limestone to the southwest of Miami and sand to the
north. There are both horizontal and vertical variations in the permeabil-
ity of the aquifer. The limestone is riddled with solution cavities in
many areas and is more permeable than the sand. Limestone cavities near
the surface are often filled with sand. There are distinct vertical zones
within the aquifer in many areas. Three zones are common in Dade County.
Although these zones are present, all parts of the aquifer are hydraulically
connected so movement of pollutants occurs from zone to zone. Maximum well
yields are as high as 7,000 gpm [ Figure 6].2
The Coastal Aquifer is present in the developed area of Palm Beach
County north of the Biscayne Aquifer [ Figure 6]. It is an unconfined sand
aquifer similar to the Biscayne. There is some question as to whether most
of the Coastal Aquifer in Palm Beach County may actually be a northern exten-
sion of the Biscayne. The Coastal Aquifer has lower permeability than the
Biscayne but is still highly productive, especially in a 5-mile wide zone
paralleling the coast and a few miles inland. 3 This zone is composed of
cavity-riddled sandy limestone in the lower layers. The aquifer ranges in
depth from 75 to 250 feet in the developed area. Maximum ‘well yields are
about 1,000 gpm [ Figure 6].2
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40 MILES
j
BISCAYNE AQUIFER,MAXIMUM YIELD 7000 GALLONS
7/’ PER MINUTE.
SHALLOW AQUIFER SOUTHWEST FLORIDAIMAXIMUM
%w,,w YIELD Z000 •ALLONS PER MINUTE.
_____ COASTAL AQUIFER PALM BEACH AND MARTIN
COIJNTIE$,MAXIMUM YIELD 1000 GALLONS PER
LOCAL,OISCONTINUOUS,WATERBEARING MATERIAL,
::••::••::••: YIELD LESS THAN 500 ALLON$ PER MINUTE.
LINE OF EQUAL DEPTH OF BASE OF BISCAYNE
AQU 1FEN,FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL.
Irr-ic
if
0
EXPLANATION
Figure 6. Areal Extent of BTscayne and Coastal Aquifers
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“I-li
The entire study area (and most of Florida) is underlain by the Floridan
Aquifer, a deep confined aquifer that dips below the Biscayne and Coastal
Aquifers. It is found in the study area at depths of 1,000 to 3,000 feet
and is separated from the surface aquifers by several hundred feet of imper-
vious formations. Water in the Floridan is unusable in the study area
because of high chlorides. Several deep injection wells dispose of munici-
pal wastewaters into the Floridan.
Surface soils include sand, muck, peat, marl and rockland [ Figure 7].2
Soil types affect both the rate of infiltration and groundwater quality.
The sandy soils near the coast and in northern Broward and Palm Beach Coun-
ties allow rapid infiltration and also filter out some pollutants. En con-
trast, the muck and peat soils add organic acids to the infiltrating surface
waters that cause solution cavities in the underlying limestone. Other
organics are also added that are precursors to the formation of trihalometh-
anes in the chlorination of drinking water. The muck is also the source of
high color in the groundwater. Where cavity-riddled limestone is near the
surface, the aquifer is most vulnerable to contamination because there is
little attenuation of pollutants in the cavities.
Recharge of the surface aquifers occurs in several ways of which infil-
tration of rainfall directly on the aquifer is the most important. Surface
water in the Everglades also infiltrates and moves southeastward in the
aquifer into the study area. Infiltration of surface water from canals
during the dry seasons is also important, especially near wellfields where
the water table is depressed. Wastewater discharges from municipal and
industrial sources to seepage pits and dry wells are a minor source of
recharge but are important with respect to groundwater contamination. Sur-
face runoff from parking lots, highways, etc. , is often discharged to
groundwater.
Of the approximate 60 inches of precipitation received annually in the
study area, about one-third is directly evaporated and another one-third is
withdrawn from groundwater by evapotranspiration. 2 This leaves a net
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111—12
- • i ,-
çi.
— (
- (
C’
C.
f.
£v(RGLAOCI
C’
I
ii
0
/
\
0 0 MILL..
p 1 1
Ap N4t C’.
-
r 3 L,M SC E
A O MARL
/ ,4) = C...A’VEV M L
Figure 7.
Surface Geology of the Study Area
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111-13
recharge of about 15 to 20 inches. About 2 to 4 inches are withdrawn for
public water supply, depending on the area. The remaining water is dis-
charged to the ocean through the drainage canals or through the aquifer
under the sea floor.
Because the aquifer is connected to the ocean, differences in water
levels in the aquifer affect the location of the boundary between fresh and
saline water. During the wet season, water levels rise and this boundary
is pushed seaward. In the dry season, water levels decline and sea water
moves inland. This salt intrusion was accelerated by the early land drain-
age projects that lowered water levels and, more recently, groundwater draw-
down by water supply wells during drought periods. Some wells near the
coast have become contaminated with salt water and have been abandoned.
Seawater also moved inland in the early canals during drought periods and
infiltrated the aquifer. Salinity barriers have been constructed across
the canals to abate this intrusion.
Surface water movement in essentially all of southeast Florida is con-
trolled by a complex system of canals, water conservation areas, a large
storage reservoir (Lake Okeechobee), control structures and pumping stations
operated by the South Florida Water Management District [ Figure 8].2
Canals were originally constructed to drain the coastal ridge and pro-
vide protection against hurricane flooding. The canals were later extended
inland to drain wetlands to make more land available for development. Even-
tually the canals were extended all the way to Lake Okeechobee, a large
(750 square mile) natural lake now diked as a storage reservoir.
During the wet season, canal controls are opened, and large volumes of
fresh water are discharged to the ocean. Water levels in the canals are
maintained at low elevations. Water levels in the aquifer, elevated by
rainfall infiltration, are drawn down by discharges of groundwater to the
canals. Excess water inland is stored in the water conservation areas and
Lake Okeechobee. Some water is backpumped from the canals into these stor-
age areas.
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Figure 8. Hydrologic Features
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111-15
Procedures are reversed during the dry season. Canal controls are
closed to prevent salinity intrusion and to elevate water levels in the
canals above adjacent water tables. This results in infiltration of sur-
face water into the aquifer. During extreme dry periods, water is released
from Lake Okeechobee and the water conservation areas to maintain flow in
the canals.
Groundwater movement in the study area is generally toward the ocean
(east or southeast). In the vicinity of canals and wellfields, however,
more complex flow patterns occur. The large weilfields produce large cones
of depression in the water table (as much as 10 feet at the center and sev-
eral miles across). Water levels fluctuate several feet between wet and
dry seasons. As discussed above, groundwater flow may be either toward or
away from canals. These factors may result in seasonal changes (even rever-
sals) in the direction of groundwater flow near large welifields. This
makes location of sources of contamination of a particular well difficult.
Other complicating factors in this regard are the highly permeable solution
cavities in the limestone and high average flow velocities (2-3 feet/day)
in the aquifer.
Drinking Water Supplies
All water supplies in Broward and Dade Counties are obtained from Bis-
cayne Aquifer groundwater. In Palm Beach County, all supplies in the study
area, except West Palm Beach, are obtained from groundwater. West Palm
Beach uses surface water from Clear Lake and Lake Mangonia. These lakes
are supplied by canal from a water conservation area in the west part of
the city and from Lake Okeechobee. Groundwater in Palm Beach County is
obtained from the northern portion of the Biscayne Aquifer and from the
Coastal Aquifer in the northern part of the county.
There are three categories of water supplies in the study area as
defined by environmental regulations. Public water systems (two categories)
provide piped water to the public for human consumption and have at least
15 service connections or regularly serve at least 25 persons at least 60
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days of the year. 4 If the persons served are year-round residents, the
public system is a community system. If the persons served are not resi-
dents, the public system is a non-community system. All other systems are
private water supplies. Public community water supplies range in size from
the large municipal systems to small systems serving small groups of resi-
dences such as trailer parks. Public non-community supplies service facil-
ities such as shopping centers, restaurants, office buildings and service
stations. Private supplies are most commonly individual residence wells.
Systems within the three different categories of water supplies differ sig-
nificantly in the average number of persons served, well construction, water
treatment, applicable regulatory controls, and ultimately, in the typical
quality of water delivered to the consumer.
Community water supplies are typically obtained from multiple wells
which are properly constructed and have large yields. The wells are usually
finished in the mid to lower levels of the aquifer. Raw water typically
receives lime softening, filtration and chlorine disinfection in a central,
well-operated treatment plant. Aeration may be provided for iron and sul-
fide removal, especially in Palm Beach County. The most stringent regula-
tions apply to community water supplies. Water quality is regularly moni-
tored for regulated parameters. Contamination problems are most likely to
be detected if they involve regulated parameters but may escape detection
if they involve non-regulated parameters. When problems occur, they affect
large numbers of people.
In contrast, non-community water supplies are typically obtained from
one well, frequently a shallow well which may be relatively small in yield.
Well construction may not be as good as community wells and, in some cases,
may be inadequate to prevent contamination by nearby sources of pollution.
Although some non-community supplies receive a high degree of treatment,
many of them may not receive much more than disinfection. Quality regula-
tions are limited, and monitoring is infrequent except for selected supplies,
such as schools, which receive regular monitoring. Contamination incidents
are less likely to be detected until health problems occur. On the other
hand, the number of persons affected may be small.
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111—17
Private water supplies are usually obtained from single, small, shallow
wells. Well construction is highly variable and may be inadequate to pro-
tect the supply from bacterial contamination from surface runoff or nearby
septic tanks. While some supplies may receive treatment for iron and hard-
ness removal and may be disinfected, most receive no treatment at all. The
supply need only meet bacteriological requirements. Monitoring is infrequent.
Table 3 summarizes the number of community and non-community public
water supplies in each of the three counties by size of population served.
These are approximate numbers taken from an EPA Region IV 1982 inventory. 5
The inventory includes some water supplies that do not have welifields and!
or treatment plants but purchase finished water from another system. Only
about half of the approximate 250 community systems listed are considered
major supplies and are closely monitored by State and local regulatory
agencies. Table 3 also shows a January 1984 estimate of the number of
active community and non-community supplies in each county as listed in a
DER computer inventory. 6 The number of supplies (especially non-community
supplies) has been sharply reduced in recent years as a result of community
system expansions.
Although Dade County has the largest population, it has the fewest
number of community systems. This reflects the fact that regionalization
of water supplies has been underway for a number of years. Several smaller
treatment plants have been phased out. Three large treatment plants (Alex-
ander Orr, Hialeah and John Preston) operated by the Miami-Dade Water and
Sewer Authority (WASA) provide water for more than half of the Dade County
population. In 1980, there were about 220 major public water supply wells
in 65 welifields serving the community water supplies.
There are currently about 116 non-community water supplies in Dade
County [ Table 3]. Many of these serve fewer than 50 people. Estimates of
the population served by private wells in Dade County run as high as
100,000. Based on an average of 2.5 persons per residence, there could be
as many as 40,000 private wells in the county.
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Table 3
SUMMARY OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES
Population
Broward Co.
Dade
Co.
Palm
Beach
Co.
Total
All
Served
Corn.* No
n_Com.**
Corn.
Non-Corn.
Corn. Non-Corn.
Public
Corn.
Non-Corn.
<101 2 74 13 185 17 394 32 653 685
101-500 14 21 13 47 28 69 55 137 192
501-1000 6 2 3 1] 10 8 19 27 46
1001-2500 8 1 11 6 13 4 32 11 43
2501- 3300 2 0 2 1 1 1 5 2 7
3301- 5000 3 1 5 0 5 0 13 1 14
5001-10,000 14 0 11 0 6 1 31 1 32
10,001-50,000 29 0 9 0 13 0 51 0 51
50,001-75,000 3 0 1 0 3 0 3 0 7
75,001-100,000 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 2
>100,000 2 0 4 0 0 0 6 0 6
EPA TOTALS 83 99 73 256 97 477 253 832 1,085
(1982)
DER TOTALS 55 74 35 116 75 307 165 497 662
(1/84)
(All Populations)
* Community
** Nori-Commu.nity
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111—19
Broward County has 55 community water systems in the DER inventory
[ Table 3]. Broward County agencies identified 53 community systems they
regulate. 7 Most of these are medium-sized systems. Only about 74 non-
community systems have been identified, most serving fewer than 50 persons.
An estimated 20,000 persons are served by about 8,000 private wells in this
county.
There are 75 community water systems in Palm Beach County reflecting
less regionalization among the smaller communities than in other counties.
There is a large number (more than 300) of small non-community systems.
Estimates of the population served by private wells were not available.
There are probably about 3.5 million persons (including tourists)
served by community water systems in the study area. An additional 100,000
are served by non-community systems. However, because these are often day
users only, these persons probably receive part of their supply from the
community systems. Estimates of population served by private systems are
in the range of 100,000 persons. Community water systems thus serve the
large majority of area residents.
Groundwater withdrawals for public water supplies in 1982 were about
300 mgd in Dade County, 210 mgd in Broward County and 100 mgd in Palm Beach
County.
PREVIOUS STUDIES
There have been numerous studies of the south Florida environment
involving air and water quality, air and water pollution sources, hazardous
waste management and disposal, pesticide use, groundwater hydrology, water
resources, and other aspects of potential interest to this study. Litera-
ture and file materials compiled from a variety of sources were reviewed
and data of particular interest abstracted. The studies discussed below
were specifically useful in this regard.
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In 1970, the Governor of Florida requested technical assistance from
the Federal Water Quality Administration (the predecessor of EPA) in deter-
mining water pollution abatement requirements for Dade County. This assist-
ance was coordinated by the Lower Florida Estuary Study based in Fort Lauder-
dale. 8 An evaluation of water quality of Biscayne Bay and the various in-
land drainage canals found that water quality was severely degraded in the
canals, primarily by inadequately treated municipal sewage and septic tank
effluents. The need for an inventory and evaluation of industrial sources
of pollution was identified. The potential for contamination of groundwater
supplies by polluted surface waters was also recognized.
In late 1970 and early 1971, NEIC assisted the Estuary Study in com-
piling an inventory of all industrial sources of pollution in Dade County. 9
About 1,800 industries were identified as being located in the metropolitan
area of Dade County. Based on the type of industry, this list was reduced
to about 600 potential sources of pollution. Phone contacts were made with
these 600, and 233 plants were selected for field inspections. Of these
233, 89 were found to have significant industrial wastewater discharges.
Thirty-eight discharged to public sewers, 36 discharged to dry wells, seep-
age pits or other methods of discharging into the ground, and 15 discharged
to surface waters. Many of the surface and ground discharges contained
toxic pollutants such as heavy metals and chemical solvents. Most of these
toxic pollutant sources were located in the Miami International Airport
vicinity, in the cone of influence of the Miami Springs-Hialeah well fields.
The hazard to the well fields was identified and the recommendation made
to connect industrial discharges to public sewers. Sampling of the indus-
trial discharges, groundwater and public water supply wells was also recom-
mended to evaluate the fate of toxic pollutants in the aquifer. This was
the earliest indication in the materials reviewed for the current study of
potential toxic contamination of drinking water in the Miami area.
Based on the discovery of synthetic organic chemicals in the New Orleans
water supply, EPA conducted a reconnaissance survey of 80 water supplies
across the nation in 1974.10 Treated water from the Preston plant in
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Miami was analyzed for six volatile organic chemicals (chloroform, bromoform,
bromodichioromethane, dibromochioromethane, carbon tetrachloride,and 1,2-
dichloroethane). The first four compounds are known as trihalomethanes and
are usually formed by the chlorine disinfection of drinking water. The
other two compounds had been found in other water supplies. The analysis
detected 311 pg/. of chloroform, the highest of all 80 cities sampled.
Other trihalomethanes were also high. Carbon tetrachloride was not detected.
A trace (<0.2 pg/i) of 1,2-dichioroethane was detected.
Based on the results of the national reconnaissance, several water
supplies, including Miami, were selected for additional monitoring in early
1975.11 Analysis was not limited to only the six compounds. Both raw
(untreated) and finished (treated) water were analyzed at the Preston treat-
ment plant. The analyses qualitatively detected 35 different volatile
organic compounds including benzene, chlorobenzene, p-dichlorobenzene, 1,1-
dichlorethylene (vinylidene chloride), cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene,
toluene, trichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. Vinyl chloride was quanti-
fied as 5.6 pg/2 in finished water. These data indicated that chemicals of
industrial origin were present in groundwater in the Preston wellfield.
EPA Region IV conducted additional sampling and analysis of ground-
water, raw water supplies, and finished water supplies in the vicinity of
the Hialeah and Preston treatment plants and the 58th Street dump, a major
Dade County landfill, in 1975 to verify the extent of contamination and
possible sources.’ 2 This sampling confirmed the continued presence of
organic chemicals in the Preston water supply. No volatile organic chemi-
cals were found in the groundwater samples taken from U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) observation wells upgradient of the 58th Street dump, but contamina-
tion was present in downgradient observation wells.
A 2-year study was begun in mid-1976 by Florida International Univer-
sity, Miami—Dade Water and Sewer Authority (WASA), the Dade County Health
Department and EPA to develop a method for removing trihalomethanes and
other organic chemicals (including trihalomethane precursors) from the
Preston water supply.’ 3 The study evaluated the use of two- absorbent resins
and granular activated carbon in filter columns receiving raw, partially
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treated and finished water. The study confirmed the continuing presence of
several organic chemicals in the raw and finished water of which trichioro-
methanes, cis-1,2-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride were the most signifi-
cant. Concentrations of cis-1,2-dichloroethene were observed to range
between 5 and 40 pg/i with averages for several test periods ranging from
10 to 20 pgI . Vinyl chloride ranged from 0 to 35 pg/ .Q with test averages
of 0 to 8 pg/2. Concentrations were highly variable from day to day.
The USGS, in cooperation with the Broward County Environmental Quality
Control Board (BCEQCB), conducted a groundwater study at the Davie Landfill
southwest of Fort Lauderdale in 1974 and 1975.’ The Davie Landfill is one
of two major landfills in Broward County. A lagoon at the site was receiv-
ing large volumes of septic tank sludges, oil and grease from commercial
grease traps and some industrial sludges. A municipal incinerator dis-
charged air pollution scrubber water to another lagoon. The monitoring
detected a plume of pollutants from the two lagoons moving into the Bis-
cayne Aquifer. Lead, zinc and mercury in excess of applicable groundwater
quality criteria were detected. No analyses for volatile organic chemicals
were done.
A similar USGS study was conducted from 1973 to 1975 at the 58th Street
Landfill in cooperation with the Dade County Public Works Department.’ 5 A
leachate plume was detected extending about half a mile east from the land-
fill toward the Hialeah-Preston welifields and toward the then proposed
Medley weilfield. Heavy metals (cadmium, lead and zinc) in excess of appli-
cable standards were detected in the plume. Several pesticides were also
detected in the aquifer. No volatile organic chemical analyses were done.
The Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM)
undertook a large-scale study of major public water supply wells in Dade
County in 1977 and 1978.16 All major public water supply wells were inven-
toried, theoretical cones of influence calculated, and land use within the
cones defined. Raw water samples were collected twice from the wells and
analyzed for 15 volatile organic chemicals. A total of 218 wells in 67
well fields were sampled during the 1977 wet season (May toOctober). Dur-
ing the 1977-78 dry season (November to April), 210 wells in 66 well fields
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111—23
were sampled. Total concentrations of the 15 volatile organic chemicals
analyzed averaged for all wells sampled in a weilfield were found to exceed
5 pg/i for 18% of the weilfields in the wet season and 11% in the dry sea-
son. Average concentrations ranged from below detection limits (<1 pg/i)
to 51 ig/ in the Sunny Isles (East Drive) wellfield. The Hialeah-Preston
wellfields averaged 32 pg/L Individual wells at a number of locations
exhibited much higher total volatile organic chemical concentrations. A
maximum of 272 pg/. was observed. Cis-1 ,2-dichloroethene was observed in
more than half of the wellfields. Vinyl chloride was also frequently
observed. Contamination levels were significantly higher in wellfields
north of Tarniami Canal than in south Dade County except for the Homestead
area. General land use patterns within cones of influence of wellfields
were compared to average contamination levels. In general, higher levels
of contamination were associated with industrial land uses.
An intensive study of the Flialeah-Preston welifield complex was con-
ducted by DERM in 1978-79.’ Four adjacent wellfields and the Hialeah and
Preston water treatment plants comprise this complex that supplied about
100 mgd of treated water to about half of the Miami urban area. The well-
fields are surrounded by large areas of industrial land use including Miami
International Airport. Fifteen USGS monitoring wells scattered about the
cone of influence of the wellfields were monitored regularly for 1 year for
15 volatile organic chemicals. Land use in the vicinity of each monitoring
well was mapped. Industrial facilities were inventoried, and the type of
activity documented. Observed annual average volatile organic contamination
ranged from 0 in the undeveloped areas to 57 pg/i in an industrial area.
Levels of contamination generally increased with increased proportions of
industrial land use. Cis-1,2-dichloroethene was the chemical most often
detected.
In late 1980 and 1981, EPA’s Office of Drinking Water conducted a
national sampling survey of finished water from 945 public water supplies
obtained from groundwater sources.’ 8 About half of the supplies were
randomly selected, and the other half selected by State agencies based on
probability of volatile organic chemical (VOC) contaminati6n. Samples were
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111-24
analyzed for 35 volatile organic chemicals. The occurrence of VOCs above
quantitation limits ranged from 17 to 37% with lower frequencies of occur-
rence for the randomly selected small (<10,000 person) systems and the high-
est percentage for large State selected systems. The frequency of occur-
rence of VOC levels greater than 5 pg/i ranged from 3 to 18%.
As part of this groundwater supply survey, 16 water supplies were sam-
pled in the study area in August 1981. In contrast to observed results in
other parts of the country, observed VOC levels were above 5 pg/P in all
supplies and were above 100 pg/i in all but three supplies as a result of
the high trihalomethane levels then common in south Florida chlorinated
water supplies.’ 9 Excluding trihalomethanes, five of the supplies had
observed VOC levels above 5 pg/ . .
In 1982, the Office of Drinking Water did a followup survey. Water
supplies for which significant VOC contamination had been detected were
encouraged to submit additional samples for VOC analysis. Samples of fin-
ished water and of raw water from selected supply wells were analyzed for
VOCs. Samples from 67 wells and 13 supplies in the study area were taken
in July, August and September 1982 (one sample per location). For the fin-
ished water samples, results were similar to the 1981 survey. Excluding
trihalomethanes, four (31%) of the 13 supplies had observed VOC levels
exceeding 5 pgIL’ 9 Twenty (30%) of the 67 water supply wells had VOC
levels exceeding 5 pg/i.
The 1981 and 1982 groundwater supply survey data represent the only
VOC data available for nine of the 13 water supplies sampled in Broward and
Palm Beach Counties. Subsequent sampling has been done on the other sup-
plies as a result of the detection of significant VOC contamination.
As part of the widespread “Superfund” investigations of major hazardous
waste disposal sites, EPA contractors conducted an intensive study of the
area potentially impacting the Hialeah-Preston welifield complex and WASA’s
new Northwest wellfield. 2 ° The study area included three Superfund sites
on the national priority list: 58th Street Landfill, Miami Drum and the
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111-25
Miami International Airport “Varsol TM spill. An unsewered industrial area
in Medley and Hialeah Gardens, a fourth potential source of contamination,
was also included in the study. Samples (three in the wet season of Novem-
ber to December 1982 and three in the dry season of March 1983) were col-
lected from 120 wells for comprehensive chemical analysis. These wells
included public water supply wells, monitoring wells at the 58th Street
Landfill, USGS monitoring wells and special new groundwater observation
wells. Results of the sampling were similar to and confirmed the earlier
DERM study of much of the same area.’ 7 Volatile organic chemical contami-
nation was widespread in the developed portions of the study area and ranged
from mean total VOC concentrations of 1 pg/i in the unsewered industrial
area to 57 pg/. in the Hialeah weilfield. Public water supply wells in the
Hialeah-Preston complex were found to be more contaminated than groundwater
observation wells. Vinyl chloride and trans-1,2-dichloroethene were the
compounds most frequently detected.
Another Superfund site, the Hollingsworth Solderless Terminal Company
in Fort Lauderdale, has been the subject of investigations by DER, BCEQCB
and EPA contractors as the result of major contamination of a nearby Fort
Lauderdale wellfield. Hollingsworth used trichioroethylene (TCE) in the
production of electrical connectors and allegedly disposed of spent ICE
down a 100-foot deep well into the Biscayne Aquifer. Very high levels (2,000
pg/2. vinyl chloride, 3,850 g/2 trans-1,2-dichloroethene, 207 pg/9 ICE) of
VOCs have been detected in Fort Lauderdale wells. 2 ’ 22
As part of their continuing Biscayne Aquifer study, DERM in September
1982 published an inventory of known and potential sources of pollution
within 210 days travel time of all public water supply wellfields in Dade
County. 23
An inventory of 49 former solid waste dumps in Dade County was com-
pleted by DERM in July 1983.24 These sites primarily received garbage and
trash but may also have received industrial wastes. Twenty of the sites
were identified for further study including groundwater monitoring.
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111-26
An investigation of the Ilialeah Garden and Medley areas was completed
by the Water Management Division, EPA Region IV, in March 1983.25 Public
health concerns in this unsewered industrial and residential area as related
to groundwater contamination were evaluated. Field observations at various
industrial facilities documented numerous practices that could be contami-
nating groundwater with solvents, other chemicals and other pollutants.
For 1982, as part of an environmental assessment of wastewater treat-
ment facilities in the Boca Raton vicinity of Palm Beach County, EPA inves-
tigated the impacts of an existing treated wastewater discharge on ground-
water quality. 26 About 2 mgd of treated municipal wastewater at Sandalwood
Cove was discharged to a percolation pond in a golf course. Analysis of
groundwater from four monitoring wells, two private residence water supply
wells and two large public water supply wells indicated that all priority
pollutants, including volatile organic chemicals, were below detection
limits.
An industrial pretreatment study was completed for the city of West
Palm Beach by an engineering consultant in 1981.27 The study inventoried
and evaluated industrial facilities in the service area of the east central
subregional wastewater treatment plant, an area east of Florida’s Turnpike
from Lantana to Riviera Beach. An inventory of 355 industries in the study
area was prepared, and each facility was surveyed by mail or phone to deter-
mine chemical use and disposal practices. Most industries were found to be
“clean” operations, but a significant number had actual or potential dis-
charges of chemical wastes. Twenty-three facilities were on septic systems
that discharged to groundwater. Twenty plants were visited. Various prac-
tices were observed that could have resulted in chemical contamination of
groundwater. Industries with the most significant pollution potential were
located in the Riviera Beach and Mangonia Park area.
A cooperative study of the impact of stormwater retention basins on
groundwater quality in Broward County was completed by USGS and the Broward
County Water Resources Management Division in March 1983.28 Seven retention
basins scattered about the eastern section of the county were sampled for
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111—27
heavy metals, pesticides and other parameters but not volatile organic
chemicals. Elevated levels of heavy metals and pesticides were found in
bottom sediments, but it was concluded that the basins were not adversely
impacting groundwater quality.
An assessment of the extent of pesticide residues in surface and ground-
water and public water supplies in Broward County was completed by the Brow-
ard County Water Resources Management Division in March 1983.29 The study,
based on existing data, concluded that public water supplies were not con-
taminated with pesticides, but that significant contamination potential
existed from a variety of sources. Data on pesticide use in Broward County
were presented.
Because water supplies in the study area typically have high levels of
trihalomethanes produced by the chlorination of natural organic compounds,
several studies of treatment methods for THM removal have been conducted in
the study area. Treatment methods evaluated include packed tower aeration,
granular activated carbon filters, and powdered activated carbon feed.
Plants studied were in Fort Lauderdale, 30 Pembroke Pines, 3 ’ N. Lauderdale
and Broward County. 32
DERM conducted additional sampling of major public water supplies for
volatile organic chemicals from February to April 1983. Data on about 70
sampling locations, including selected water supply wells, water treatment
plant effluents and selected distribution system points, were released in a
data report in November 1983. An interpretive report is in preparation.
DERM also released THM monitoring data for 10 major Dade County water
supplies in spring 1983. Average THM concentrations ranged from 4 to 149
A draft report on an investigation of vinyl chloride contamination of
the Preston—Hialeah water supply system was obtained from DERM in mid-1983. 35
The report summarizes available data on vinyl chloride contamination in the
Hialeah and Preston treated water in supply wells. Potential sources of
contamination are identified and abatement strategies discussed.
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111-28
STUDY METHODS
The initital phase of the study consisted of a compilation and evaluation
of existing information on VOC contamination of groundwater and drinking
water, potential sources of contamination and environmental control programs.
Three basic approaches were used to compile this available information: a
computerized file search, manual searches of regulatory agency files and
interviews with regulatory and water resource agency personnel. An extensive
computerized literature search was conducted by NEIC’s Information Services
Branch. A wide variety of environmental data bases were searched using
both subject and geographical terms to get the broadest coverage possible
and to identify all published literature of possible use in this study.
Several hundred citations were identified. Abstracts of these documents
were reviewed and appropriate items procurred. As received, these references
were reviewed for secondary references of interest, and appropriate items
were also procurred. Some documents contained specific data used in this
report. These documents are referenced in the text and listed in the Ref-
erence section. Other documents containing information of general interest
were not referenced in the report but are listed in the Bibliography.
A major source of information was the various files maintained by regu-
latory and water resource agencies. Detailed manual file searches were
conducted for several program offices in EPA Region IV, Atlanta, Georgia 36
and the Florida DER subdistrict office in West Palm Beach. 22 Selected files
were also reviewed for the following agencies: EPA Region IV Environmental
Services Division, Athens, Georgia; 11 EPA Office of Drinking Water, Cincin-
nati, 37 Ohio; Florida DER (several divisions), Tallahassee; 38 Broward County
Health Department 39 and Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board, 4 °
Fort Lauderdale; Dade County Health Department 4 ’ and Metropolitan Dade Depart-
ment of Environmental Resources Management, 34 Miami; Palm Beach County Health
Department, 42 West Palm Beach and the U.S. Geological Survey, Tallahassee 43
and Miami. 44 These manual file searches were supplemented by computer
searches of various EPA and DER data bases.
-------
111-29
The third approach was personal interviews with key personnel in each
of the agencies listed above for which file searches were performed. Infor-
mation was obtained on past, present and projected future activity relative
to drinking water quality, groundwater pollution, regulation of sources of
pollution, regulation changes, etc.
In the second study phase, 60 groundwater monitoring wells in Broward
County were sampled and VOC analyses performed. Standard sampling and ana-
lytical procedures were used. A team composed of EPA (NEIC and/or Region IV
Environmental Services Division) and Broward County Environmental Quality
Control Board (EQCB) personnel conducted the sampling. A gasoline engine-
powered centrifugal pump was used to purge at least five casing volumes
from each well. The pump suction line was rinsed with organic-free water
prior to insertion into the well. The pump suction line was removed from
the well while still pumping. A stainless steel bailer was then used to
collect a sample from the well. The sample was transferred without aeration
to a clean 40-m.Q. glass vial with Teflon®_lined septum cap. Concentrated
HC1 acid had previously been added to each vial as a preservative. All
samples were placed on ice and maintained at 40 C until analyzed. Samples
were analyzed within 14 days of collection. Quality control replicates and
trip blanks were also collected and analyzed.
Half of the samples were analyzed by the Region IV laboratory in Athens,
Georgia and half by the NEIC laboratory in Denver. All analyses at the
Athens laboratory were for purgeables by EPA Method 624 using a gas chromat-
ograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). This method determines all VOCs of inter-
est in this study, including aromatics, trihalomethanes and other halogenated
compounds. All samples handled in Denver were analyzed for purgeable halo-
carbons by EPA Method 601 using a gas chromatograph equipped with a Hall
detector. This method detects the same compounds as Method 624, with the
exception of aromatics. Selected samples were analyzed by Method 624 for
confirmation of compounds detected by Method 601 and for screening for aro-
matics. Detection limits for most compounds were about 0.5 pg/i for Method
601 and 1-5 pg/i for Method 624. Standard quality control procedures were
followed by both laboratories.
® Registered trademark
-------
111-30
The major sampling effort of the second study phase was directed toward
public water supplies. Region IV personnel from Athens with the assistance
of the Broward County Public Health Unit sampled 45 community and 17 non-
community water supplies in Broward County. Athens personnel with assistance
from the Dade County Department of Public Health sampled 18 community and
21 non-community supplies in Dade County. Community water supplies in Bro-
ward County selected for sampling represented all supplies with their own
weilfields. Community supplies that obtained their water from another sup-
ply were not sampled. The same approach to selection of community supplies
was used in Dade County, with the exception that the large Hialeah, Preston
and Orr supplies operated by Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority were not
sampled because adequate data were available. For non-community supplies,
an inventory of active supplies was sorted geographically. All large sup-
plies serving 500 or more persons were selected for sampling. The remaining
supplies to be sampled were selected from the inventory by a random process
with a few minor adjustments to assure that all geographical areas were
represented.
Grab samples of finished water were collected from all systems, gener-
ally at the water treatment plant. Samples were collected in the 40-mi
vials with acid preservative as described for the monitoring wells above.
In addition, since the finished water was chlorinated, thiosulfate was added
to each sample to eliminate any chlorine residual. For water supplies which
had aeration units in their treatment systems, a grab sample of raw water
was also collected. Field replicates and trip blanks were collected per
standard methods.
All water supply samples collected by Athens personnel were analyzed
at the Athens laboratory. Method 624 was used as described above for the
monitoring wells.
In Palm Beach County, 72 community and 45 non-community supplies were
sampled by NEIC with assistance from the Palm Beach County Health Department.
Selection of supplies to be sampled and sampling techniques were the same
as for Broward County. All samples were analyzed at the NEiC laboratory in
Denver using Method 601. Selected samples were also analyzed by Method 624.
-------
111-31
The third study phase involved the sampling astewater effluent and
groundwater monitoring wells at six industrial facilities. NEIC conducted
the sampling with assistance provided by the Broward County Environmental
Quality Control Board for the four facilities in Broward County. Sampling
procedures for the wastewater effluents were the same as for water supplies.
Groundwater monitoring wells were sampled in the same manner as the Broward
County monitoring wells discussed above, with the exception that electric
diaphragm pumps were used at some wells in lieu of the gasoline-powered
centrifugal pump. All samples were analyzed at NEIC using Method 624.
Standard EPA chain-of-custody and documentation procedures were used
for all sample handling.
-------
IV- ’
IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Groundwater quality is the environmental condition of most concern in
south Florida because groundwater is the source of drinking water for most
of the region’s population. Natural pollutants, sea water intrusion and,
most recently, pollutants from man’s activities have adversely impacted
groundwater quality. Contamination of groundwater with volatile organic
chemicals (VOCs) during the last decade has occurred at various locations,
including several public water supply welifields. This has resulted in
major expenditures for public water supplies, including increased treatment
and relocation of welifields. The current status of VOC contamination of
groundwater as defined by existing data and new data generated by EPA sam-
pling of monitoring wells in Broward County is summarized below. Several
localized groundwater contamination problems at industrial facilities or
hazardous waste disposal sites are discussed in Section V.
The quality of drinking water supplies has major public health signifi-
cance. This quality is a function of groundwater quality and the type of
water treatment provided. Because most water supplies do not provide treat-
ment to remove VOCs, contamination of groundwater has resulted in the occur-
rence of significant levels of VOCs in some public drinking water supplies.
In the following section, current levels of VOCs in public community water
supplies are defined based on existing data and new data generated by an
intensive EPA sampling study. New data on a representative sampling of
non-community water supplies are also presented. Observed levels of VOC
contamination are compared to Florida and EPA drinking water regulations
that define the relative significance of the contamination. Water supply
improvements that have recently substantially reduced the population served
by supplies contaminated with significant levels of VOCs are also discussed.
Because area groundwaters contain natural organic chemicals from the
Everglades and muck soils, chlorine disinfection of drinking water has
typically produced high levels of synthetic chemicals called trihalomethanes
(THMs). High levels have public health significance. Mo t major water
-------
IV- 2
supplies have reduced THM levels to meet Florida and EPA regulations, but
the recent EPA study indicates THM levels are still excessive in some major
supplies and a significant number of smaller supplies.
GROUNDWATER
Groundwater in the Biscayne and Coastal Aquifers is a major natural
resource in the study area. The Biscayne Aquifer has been designated as a
sole source aquifer by EPA under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water
Act. This legal designation reflects the major importance placed on pro-
tection of the quality of this source of drinking water for most of the
area.
Currently, there are no Federal regulations that specify water quality
limits for groundwater, with the exception of hazardous waste management
regulations established under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
that apply to land disposal facilities. 45 Florida DER has established water
quality criteria applicable to all groundwater in the study area. The Bis-
cayne and Coastal aquifers in the study area are classified for potable
water use. Applicable water quality criteria are specified in the Florida
Administrative Code (FAC) Chapter 17-3. Major components of these criteria
are the primary and secondary drinking water quality standards established
by DER for public water supplies [ Appendix A]. Groundwater is thus required
to meet drinking water standards unless lower quality is present due to
natural conditions (FAC 17-3.404). The groundwater must also meet other
general criteria (FAC 17-3.402, Appendix B). Until recently, no quality
standards had been established for volatile organic chemicals, although the
regulations made provision for adding maximum contaminant levels for other
pollutants. DER has promulgated maximum contaminant levels for eight vola-
tile organic chemicals that are applicable to public water supplies and, by
reference, to groundwater. The criteria take effect in June 1985.
DERM has established water quality criteria for groundwater in Dade
County [ Appendix B]. These criteria include fewer pollutants than the DER
criteria. The Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board has estab-
lished water quality criteria for Broward County groundwater [ Appendix B].
-------
IV-3
Pollutants covered are similar to the drinking water standards. The criteria
do include a limit of 0.01 mg/i for chlorinated hydrocarbons other than
specifically named pesticides.
Groundwater quality throughout the study area has been extensively
studied and monitored by USGS and other agencies. In addition, water util-
ities and regulatory agencies regularly monitor raw water at water treatment
plants and supply wells. These studies were primarily directed at evaluat-
ing the suitability of various portions of the aquifer for water supply,
monitoring salinity intrusion and detecting water supply contamination.
Parameters observed were usually typical physical and inorganic chemical
measurements. Organic chemical measurements were few and generally limited
to selected pesticides. The reader is referred to the Bibliography for
selected sources of this extensive conventional groundwater quality data.
General groundwater conditions are summarized below. Available data on
toxic pollutants are also discussed.
Biscayne Aquifer water is generally of good quality, but several natural
conditions reduce quality in some areas, requiring varying degrees of water
treatment to produce acceptable drinking water. In south Dade County,
groundwater generally meets drinking water standards, and only disinfection
is required to produce adequate water quality. From central Dade County
northward, water characteristics such as hardness, iron, color, sulfides
and chlorides vary due to natural conditions and exceed desirable levels in
some areas requiring water treatment.
Biscayne Aquifer water is a hard calcium bicarbonate type with total
hardness in the range of 150 to 300 mg/ . 7 There are no regulatory limits
on hardness, but total hardness less than 100 mg/i is desirable for domestic
water uses. Most water treatment plants north of central Miami provide
lime softening for hardness removal and to aid in iron and color reduction.
Dissolved iron is quite variable in the aquifer, ranging from about
0.1 to 3 mg/L A concentration of less than 0.3 mg/i is considered desir-
able. Chlorides and dissolved solids are at acceptable levels throughout
-------
IV-4
most of the developed area, except along the coastline where sea water
intrusion has occurred. In Broward and Palm Beach Counties, chloride levels
increase with distance from the coastline due to easterly flow of connate
water from the Everglades.
A major natural quality problem is the high organic content of the
groundwater derived from the muck and peat soils of the Everglades. Color
is very high in much of the aquifer, ranging from less than 10 units near
the coastline and in south Dade County to more than 100 units near the Ever-
glades. Most public supplies, except in south Dade County, must treat for
color removal.
The high organic content produces a second drinking water problem.
Many of the organic materials are precursors for the formation of trihalo-
methanes during the chlorination of drinking water for color removal and
disinfection. Special disinfection procedures have been initiated by
several area water supplies to overcome this problem.
Sulfides are present at undesirable levels in some areas of the aqui-
fer, especially in Palm Beach and northern Broward Counties. Sulfides im-
part undesirable odor to the water. Some water supplies aerate drinking
water for sulfide removal.
Under natural conditions, the best groundwater quality was found under
the Atlantic Coastal Ridge. As this area developed first, most of the early
water supply wells were located near the coastline. Drainage canals lowered
the water table, and some salinity intrusion into the freshwater aquifer
occurred. Groundwater withdrawals increased as population increased, which
lowered local water tables and allowed more salinity intrusion. Major pub-
lic water supply wells in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale have been abandoned be-
cause of salinity intrusion. Florida has experienced a relatively wet peri-
od in recent years. Groundwater withdrawals have increased substantially
since the last major drought in 1970—71. There is a potential for salinity
contamination of additional wells along the coastline, should another major
drought occur.
-------
IV- 5
Nitrates throughout the aquifer are generally low, less than 1 mgIL
Exceptions to this are the vicinities of local sources of pollution such as
sludge lagoons and septic tanks and an agricultural area of south Dade Coun-
ty. A DERM study in south Dade detected elevated levels of nitrates (1-10
mg/i) in some water supply wells. 46 This was attributed to agricultrual
sources.
There has been limited sampling for pesticides in groundwater. A 1978
DERM study sampled raw water from 31 weilfields in Dade County. 16 Samples
were analyzed for 12 organochlorine pesticides used in the area. Pesti-
cides were detected at trace levels (1 to 15 nanograms per liter) in only
three supplies. In 1979, DERM sampled 34 wellfields for two herbicides:
2,4,5—TP (Silvex) and 2,4-D. Silvex was detected in two weilfields at a
concentration of 0.02-0.5 ig/ . In 1983, the Florida Department of Health
and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) coordinated sampling of selected wells in
the study area for the pesticide ethylene dibromide (EDB). 4 ’ This followed
detection of this pesticide in groundwater in other areas of the State. To
date, EDB has not been detected in the study area. An extensive study (6
samples at each of 120 wells) of the Hialeah-Preston welifields vicinity in
1982-83 as part of a Superfund investigation only detected pesticides in
two wells, both in the 58th Street Landfill area. 2 °
With the exception of pesticides included in the drinking water stand-
ards and the Broward County chlorinated hydrocarbon limit (10 pg/ f l, there
were no water quality criteria established for synthetic organic chemicals
in area groundwaters until early 1984. In March 1984, DER promulgated maxi-
mum contaminant levels for eight volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) as part
of their primary drinking water regulations [ Appendix A]. These criteria
specify the maximum allowable levels of the eight VOCs in public community
water supplies and are enforceable limits. The MCLs are incorporated in
DER groundwater quality criteria by reference [ Appendix B]. The MCLs are
applicable to community water systems serving 1,000 or more persons beginning
June 1, 1985 and to smaller community systems beginning January 1, 1987.
-------
IV-6
The eight MCLs are given below and are compared with proposed EPA
RMCLs discussed below.
Proposed EPA
Florida DER MCLs RMCLs
Volatile Organic Compound ( pgI. ) ( pgI )
trichloroethylene 3 2.8
tetrachioroethylene 3 0.7
carbon tetrachloride 3 0.4
1,1,1-trichloroethane 200 22
1,2-dichloroethane c. 3 0.6
vinyl chloride 1 1.0
benzene - 1 0.7
1,1-dichloroethene w-. LJ2 ’ tJé, ’ - 0.2
ethylene dibromide 0.02 -
EPA is developing maximum contaminant levels for drinking water for
selected organic chemicals most frequently detected in groundwater and drink-
ing water supplies. In March 1982, EPA published an advance notice of pro-
posed rulemaking, indicating the intent to establish recommended maximum
contaminant levels (RMCLs) for six volatile organic chemicals (VOCs): tn-
chioroethylene (ICE), tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene or PCE), carbon
tetrachloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane and vinyl chlo-
ride. 48 Possible values for RMCLs were in the range of 1 to 1,000 pg/i.
Based on comments received on the advance notice and on additional
scientific data, EPA has developed a set of proposed RMCLs that were in the
final stage of Agency review in late 1983.12 Eight RMCLs were proposed for
the six VOCs in the advance notice plus benzene and 1,1-dichioroethene
(vinylidene chloride). Tentatively proposed values are given above.
Recommended MCLs are health goals and are not enforceable under the
Safe Drinking Water Act. They are designed to specify water quality at
which no adverse health effects would be expected, including a margin of
safety. The RMCL values listed above represent very low health risks.
They are based on an estimated risk level of one excess case of cancer per
one million persons drinking the water for a 70-year lifetime. As shown,
the Florida MCLs are slightly higher for most VOCs. These values reflect
adjustment for analytical detection limits for test procedui’es generally in
use at present.
-------
IV-7
The proposed RMCLs were used as screening criteria to evaluate avail-
able data on VOCs in groundwater. Levels of VOCs exceeding these criteria
are of concern because most private and some public water supplies provide
no treatment that would remove VOCs. Unless aeration is provided, treatment
systems on most public water supplies also do not significantly reduce raw
water VOCs. Thus, the finished drinking water would reflect groundwater
quality. Data were also compared to the new Florida MCLs.
There have been five studies between 1977 and 1983 that provide a lim-
ited overview of the level of VOC contamination of groundwater in the study
area. A number of other studies have been conducted at specific sites as
the result of various pollution problems.
Table 4 presents a summary of available data on VOC contamination of
public water supply wells that reflect groundwater quality at the wellfield
locations. In most cases, Table 4 gives a range of observed VOC concentra-
tions for the welifield rather than data on individual wells. In some cases,
raw water data are presented which represent the quality of water delivered
to the treatment plant by the particular combination of wells in operation
at the time of sampling. Table 4 also presents data on finished water qual-
ity that are discussed in the following section.
Dade County
The 1977-78 study by DERM encompassed 218 major public water supply
wells in Dade County.’ 6 Two samples per well were taken several months
apart during the historical wet and dry seasons and analyzed for 15 VOCs.
Cis-1,2-dichloroethene was the VOC most frequently detected. This com-
pound, along with trans-1,2-dichoroethene, is frequently associated, in the
Biscayne aquifer, with the occurrence of vinyl chloride. For this reason,
screening criteria were established for the EPA study for both cis- and
trans-1,2-dichloroethene to indicate when these compounds were present at
significant levels. A criterion of 5 pg/i was selected for each compound
because this level often corresponded with vinyl chloride in the range of
the 1 pg/9 MCL.
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis-1,2-
Trichloro-
chloride
chloride
dichioroethene
ethene
Flow
System (mgd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
(pg/fl
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
BROWARD COUNTY
Broward Co. Utilities (Standby)
(Palmdale-1B)
Finished Water 8/81 <1 <0.2 0.5 <0.2
Finished Water 7/82 <1 <0.2 0.6 <0.2
Wells (3/5) 7/82 <1 <0.2 <0.2-0.7 <0.2
Broward Co. Utilities 11.3
(N. District-2A)
Finished Water 8/81 <1 <0.2 4.9 0.6
Finished Water 7/82 <1 O.24** - 3.8 0.2
Wells (5/7) 7/82 <1
-------
Table 4
City of Pembroke Pines
(System #2)
Finished Water
Finished Water
Wells (2/5)
Finished Water
City of Pompano Beach
Finished Water
Finished Water
Wells (5/16)
Finished Water
City of Sunrise
(System #1)
Finished Water
Finished Water
Wells (5/16)
Finished Water
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
Carol City Utilities (Shut down)
Well.s (8)
Wells (8)
3/83
3/83
4/83
W77
078
<0. 1
<0. 1
<0. 1
0. 15-13. 6*
<0.1
0.1
<0. 02
0. 32
<0. 02
0.02
<0. 02
<0. 02
<0.02
0.2-0.9
<0. 02-0. 75
0.63
<0. 02-0. 07
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02-0.28
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis-1,2-
Trichloro-
chloride
chloride
dichloroethene
ethene
Flow
System (rngd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
(pgR)
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
4.1
21.7
5.4
8/81
<1
<0.2
0.3
<0.2
7/82
<1
<0.2
0.2
<0.2
7/82
<1
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
3/84
ND
ND
ND
ND
8/81
<1
<0.2
1.2
19*
7/82
<1
<0.2
<0.2
0.6
7/82
<1
<0.2
<0.2-0.5
<0.2_3.6*
2/84
ND
ND
8.9**
22*
8/81
<1
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
7/82
<1
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
7/82
<1
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
2/84
ND
ND
ND
ND
DADE COUNTY (See Figure
9 for System
Locations)
w
D78C
<0. 1-0. 16
<0.1
Dade Utilities (now WASA)
(Mansionette) (Shut down)
Finished Water
Distribution System
Composite Raw Water
Wells (5)
Wells (5)
<0.02-0.02 <0.02-0.7 <0.02-0.3
<0.02-0.3
<0.02
0
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis-1,2-
Trichloro-
chloride
chloride
dichioroethene
ethene
Flow
System (mgd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
( jg/2.)
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
City of Florida City
Wells (3)
Wells (3)
Finished Water
Finished Water
Florida Keys Aqueduct
Wells (6)
Wells (6)
Finished Water
W77
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
City of Homestead
Wells (3)
Wells (4)
Finished Water
Finished Water
Miami-Dade WASA
Alexander Orr
Finished Water
Wells (Orr-4)
Wells (Orr-4)
Wells (Orr-1O)
Wells (Orr-1O)
Wells (SW—5)
Wells (SW-1O
Wells (SW-1O)
Wells (Snapper Ck-1)
Wells (Snapper Ck-4)
Wells (Snapper Ck-4)
Composite Raw Water
Finished Water
Hialeah
Wells (Plant-3)
Wells (Plant-3)
Wells (Lower MS-8)
Wells (Lower MS-8)
Wells (Upper MS-12)
Wells (Upper MS-12)
Wells (Lower MS-4)
Wells (Upper MS-i)
Finished Water
Composite Raw Water
Distribution System
Distribution System
Composite Raw Water
Finished Water
W77
078
W77
D78
W7 7
D78
11 & 12/82
11 & 12/82
12/82
12/82
3/83
4/83
2/84
2/84
<0. 1-3. 3*
<0.1-0.84
<0.1_11.1*
<0. 1- 7.6
<0.1-23.9
<0. 1-0. 15
<1_52*
<1 72*
3. 3-8. 5*
6_1O*
<0. 1-4. 3*
0. 6_3. 9*
<1
Tr.
<0.02-0.18
<0.02-0.1
<0. 02-0. 18
<0.02-0. 33**
<0.02-0. 23**
<0.02-0. 35**
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
<1
<1
0. 1_15**
0.4-8. 6
<0. 02-66’
0. 4- 51
0. 2_26**
0. 8-19
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Tr.
Tr.
<0.02-0.17
<0.02-0.03
<0.02-0.4
<0.02—0.5
<0.02-0.4
<0.02-0.22
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
<1
<1
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis-1,2—
Trichioro—
chloride
chloride
di chi oroethene
ethene
Flow
System (mgd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
(pg/fl
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
7.2
137
15O***
W]7
1.7_18*
<0.02
<0.02-0.3
<0.02-1.2
D78
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02
3/83
ND
0.10-0.18
ND
ND
3/84
ND
ND
ND
ND
2/83
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02-0.4
2/83
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02-2.6
<0.02_3.8*
4/83
<0.1
<0.02_O.36**
<0.02-0.9
<0.02-0.06
W77
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02_5.6**
<0.02-0.28
D78
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02_14**
<0.02-1.4
4/83
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02-0.4
<0.02
W]7
<0.1
<0.02-0.02
<0.02
<0.02-0.07
078
<0.1
<0.02-0.03
<0.02
<0.02—0.08
4/83
<0.1
0.36**
<0.02
0.17
W77
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02
D78
2/84
<0.1
<1
<0.02
<1
<0. 2
Jr.
<0.02
<1
2/84
<1
<1
Tr.
<1
-I
I-
I-
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis-1,2-
Trichioro-
chloride
chloride
dichioroethene
ethene
Flow
System (mgd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
(pgI2)
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
Preston 150***
Wells (7) W77 NA <0.02-0.16 9_169** 0.12-1.2
Wells (7) D78 <0.02-0.18 <0.02-0/13 4_34** 0.05-0.44
Wells (5) 1/82 1.1_13* NA NA NA
Wells (6) 11/82 <1_26* NA NA NA
Wells (6) 12/82 <1_27* NA NA NA
Wells (Iledley-4) 10/82 33_389* 6_21** <01_7.5** NA
Wells (Medley-2) 12/82 7_45* NA <1-2 NA
Finished Water 11/82 5_37* NA NA NA
Composite Raw Water 11/82 7.3_8.8* NA NA NA
Finished Water 12/82 4.0* NA NA NA
Composite Raw Water 12/82 5.1* NA NA NA
Finished Water 1/83 3•9* NA NA NA
Composite Raw Water 1/83 4•4* NA NA NA
Wells (Northwest-4) 3/83 <5 <5 <5 <5
Composite Raw Water 2/84 <1 <1 <1 <1
Finished Water 2/84 <1 1 <1 <1
South Miami Heights 2.8
Wells (5) W77 <0.1 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02
Wells (5) 078 <0.1 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02
Finished Water 2/83 <0.1 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02
City of North Miami
Eastside (Shut Down)
Wells (6) W77 <0.1 <0.02 <0.02-1.1 <0.02
Wells (6) 078 <0.1 <0.02 <0.02-1.1 <0.02
Distribution System (WASA) 3/83 <0.1_1.7* <0.02_0.32** 2.2_5.2** 1.2-2.5
Winson (Westside) 6.7
Wells (8) W77 <0.1 <0.02-0.07 <0.02_18.3** 0.03—0.74
Wells (8) 078 <0.1 <0.02-0.03
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis-1,2-
Trichioro-
chloride
chloride
dichioroethene
ethene
Flow
System (mgd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
(pg/fl
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
Finished Water
Distribution System
Wells (6)
Finished Water
Sunny Isles
East Drive Wells
East Drive Wells
East Drive Wells
East Drive Wells
Old Wells (12)
Old Wells (8)
Finished Water
Finished Water
Finished Water
Finished Water
Finished Water
W77
D78
3/83
W7 7
D78
7/82
9/82
Wi 7
D78
8/81
7/82
9/82
3/83
3/84
<0.1
<0. 1
0.6-2. 6*
<0. 1—38
<0. 1 3. 7*
4. 9-12k
1.4_27*
<0. 1
<0. 1
6.5*
43*
6.4*
0_2.O*
2*
<0.02
<0.02
O._0.77**
<0.02_7.8**
<0. 02-4. 3**
<0. 2-0. 69**
<0. 2-0. 82**
<0. 02-0. 23**
<0. 02-0. 11
0. 35
<0. 2
<0.2
o_o 34**
ND
3.]
5 7
5 9 7 3**
0. 13-89
0. 14-3O
1. 6-50
0. 3-88
0.7-16. 6**
15**
10 * *
12* *
0. 9 7**
1
1.12
0.12
0.09-0.25
O.O2_31*
<0. O2-23
<0.2-0.53
<0.2-0.37
<0.02-0.44
<0. 02-2. 8**
<0. 2
<0. 2
<0.2
0-0. 23
ND
North Miami Shores (Shut Down)
High Ridge
Well (1)
Well (1)
3/83
<0.1
<0.02
2.0-2.2
2.0-2.2
3/83
<0.1
<0.02_0.28**
0.3-2.7
0.9-2.3
3/83
<0.1
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis-1,2-
Trichioro-
chloride
chloride
dichioroethene
ethene
Flow
System (mgd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
(pg/ )
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
City of Opa-Locka
Wells (8) W77
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis-1,2-
Trichloro-
chloride
chloride
dichioroethene
ethene
Flow
System (mgd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
(pg/2)
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
South Dade Utilities
Be] Aire
Wells (2)
Wells (2)
Finished Water
Distribution System
Pt. Royale
Well (1)
Well (1)
Finished Water
Distribution System
Southern Gulf Utilities
Riverdale (Shut down)
Wells (2)
Wells (5)
Wells (5)
Finished Water
Finished Water
Distribution System
W7 7
078
2/83
2/83
W77
D78
2/83
2/83
<0. 1-0. 18
<0. 1
<0.1
<0.1
1.06*
<0.1
<0.1
<0. 1
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02-0.1
<0.02
<0.02
0.11
<0.02
0.03
<0.02-0.04
<0.02
<0. 02
<0. 02
<0. 02
<0. 02
<0. 02
<0. 02
<0.02
Tr.
0. 04-0. 14
<0.02
<0.02
0.04
<0.02-0.09
Tamiami Airport
Well (1)
Well (1)
W77
D78
<0.1
<0. 1
0.12
0.09
<0. 02
<0. 02
2.72
<0. 02
u - i
Redavo
Wells (2)
Wells (2)
Finished Water
Finished Water
W77
12.8_60*
<0.02-0.02
<0.02-2.6
‘zO.02-0.04
078
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02
3/83
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02
3/84
ND
ND
ND
ND
0.02
0.6
1.3
(now WASA)
4/83
<0.1
<0.02
<0.02
<0.02
W77
<0.1
<0.02-0.07
<0.02
<0.02-0.02
D78
<0.1
<0.02-0.03
<0.02
<0.02-0.05
8/81
<1
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
3/83
<0.1
0.21**
<0.02
0.02
3/83
<0.1
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
Vinyl
Vinylidene
Cis l,2
Trichloro
chloride
chloride
dichloroethene
ethene
Flow
System (rngd) Date 1/1
EPA
Screening
Criteria/DER MCLs
(pg/.Q)
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
City of Boca Raton
Finished Water
Finished Water
Century Village
Century Utilities
Finished Water
Finished Water
Wells (3/3)
Finished Water
Town of Lantana
Finished Water
Finished Water
Wells (4/4)
Finished Water
8/81
7/82
7/82
4/84
8/81
7/82
7/82
5/84
<1
<1
<1
<0. 5
<1
<1
<1
<0. 5
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
<0. 5
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
<0.5
<0.2
<0. 2
<0.2
<0. 5
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2-0.8
<0.5
<0. 2
<0.2
<0. 2
<0. 5
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
<0.5
PALM BEACH COUNTY
8/81 <1
<0.2
<0.2 <0.2
3/84 <0.5
<0.5
<0.5 <0.5
9.9
1.1
1.8
6.5
City of Riviera
Beach
Finished Water
8/81
<1
Finished Water
7/82
4*
Wells (8/19)
7/82
<1_270*
Wells (#11)
1/83
217_260*
Finished Water
1/83
<1
Finished Water
3/84
<0.5
Composite Raw
Water
3/84
<0.5
<0.2
0.2
0.3
<0.2
1.6
0.9
<0.2
-------
Table 4
OBSERVED VOC CONCENTRATION IN SELECTED WATER SUPPLIES AND WELLFIELDS
System
,
Flow
(mgd)
Date
Vinyl
chloride
EPA
Vinylidene
chloride
Screening
Cis-1,2—
dichloroethe
Criteria/DER MCLs
ne
(pg/i)
Trichioro—
ethene
1/1
0.2/None
5/None
2.8/3
Seacoast Utilities
3.9
Richard Road
Finished Water
8/81
<1
<0.2.
<0.2
<0.2
Finished Water
7/82
<1
<0.2
<0.2
2.2
Wells (8/17)
7/82
<1
<0.2
<0.2-0.7
-------
IV-18
During the wet season, VOC concentrations in excess of screening criteria
were detected in 58 (27%) of the 218 wells. Cis-1,2-dichloroethene was
found in excess of the screening criterion of 5 pg/. in 32 wells (15%).
Vinyl chloride exceeded the Florida MCL of 1 pg/. in 28 wells (13%). Other
compounds were at excess levels in less than 5% of the wells. During the
dry season, the frequency of occurrence of VOC contamination exceeding
screening criteria was significantly lower. Of the 210 wells sampled, 33
(16%) had VOC levels above screening criteria. Cis-1,2-dichloroethene was
the most common VOC, with 30 wells exceeding screening criteria. Vinyl
chloride exceeded the Florida MCL in 6 wells. Data on each welifield are
summarized in the Dade County section of Table 4.
The results of the 1977-78 study are shown graphically in Figure 9
which shows the location of all major wellfields in Dade County in 1982.
Essentially all of these, except the new Northwest (Three Square Mile) and
Medley wellfields, were sampled in the study. Wellfields for which one or
more wells exceeded screening criteria are shown by black squares. The
maximum sum of all 15 VOCs analyzed observed at any well in the field is
also shown for wet and dry seasons. The highest VOC concentrations for
both seasons were observed at the Sunny Isles (East Drive) wellfield in
North Miami Beach. The Hialeah and Preston wellfields in northwest Miami
also had high concentrations. Wellfields in North Miami and Opa-Locka also
had significant contamination.
To the southwest, contamination levels were lower, especially during
the dry season. In the Alexander Orr, Snapper Creek and Southwest well-
fields feeding WASA’s Orr treatment plant, VOC levels were very low in the
large grouping of wellfields. Near Homestead, all of the wellfields had
one or more wells exceeding criteria during the wet season but none during
the dry season. Vinyl chloride was usually the excessive VOC.
Because the Hialeah-Prestion wellfields/treatment plants complex sup-
plied a large population in Miami and had the second highest levels of VOC
contamination observed in the 1977-78 study, DERM conducted a followup in-
tensive investigation in 1978-79.’ Fifteen USGS observation wells within
-------
Iv-19
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Figure 9: Observed VOC Contamination of Dade County Welifields
-------
IV-20
the cone of influence of the welifields were monitored regularly for VOC
contamination. Supply wells were also sampled. The study confirmed the
earlier detection of significant levels of VOC contamination in the water
supply study’ 6 , with higher levels present in several wells during the later
study. Lower levels of VOC contamination were observed in the USGS moni-
toring wells. Four of the 15 monitoring wells had vinyl chloride exceeding
the Florida MCL of 1 pg/L A maximum of 7 pgR was observed in one USGS
well. Cis-1,2-dichloroethene exceeded the 5 pg/2 screening criterion in
three wells, with 123 pg/Z the maximum concentration observed.
During the same study, VOC samples were taken from a number of irri-
gation and water supply wells at parks, industrial plants, etc. in an at-
tempt to better define sources of contamination. Widely varying levels of
VOC contamination were observed similar to the other wells sampled. Two
producing wells and several USGS observation wells in the Alexander Orr
welifield vicinity were also sampled. Low levels of a few VOCs well below
screening criteria were all that were detected confirming the 1977-78 results
for the Orr welifield.
This study seemed to indicate a correlation between industrial land
uses and well contamination. Higher levels of VOC contamination were ob-
served in water supply wells than in groundwater observation wells. No
significant differences between wet and dry seasons were discernible for
most wells, although a good correlation between monthly rainfall and concen-
trations of cis-1,2-dichloroethene was demonstrated for one USGS well near
the center of the wellfield.
The large-scale Superfund study in 1982-83 also concentrated on the
Hialeah-Preston area and an unsewered industrial area to the northwest [ Fig-
ure 1O).20 The study collected six samples each from about 120 wells, includ-
ing water supply wells, USGS groundwater observation wells and special obser-
vation wells. Analytical techniques used by the study had a detection limit
of 5 pg/i for VOCs, about an order of magnitude higher than the DERM stud-
ies. Screening criteria used by the Superfund study to evaluate the signi-
ficance of observed VOC contamination were also about an order of magnitude
-------
Nodhwest
WeN Field —
(15 Wells)
VIR IN lA
- GARDENS 1.IIAM
::
ii i
I -1IL .Jli i —
• 1
4i .
T L.. T1i .I a
•. jThi
it
, ., .iLT
: ;: i ’ .i ip 1 t’: :,
()I A (O( ‘A i il
... ( I -
— L ji
V.
li -i
Private I
Wells -L
A
1/
‘•‘• 80 - 90,
s4i vate
. -i
,
/
Private
WINS
M
Sn
Unsewered )6o
Industrial Private
Areas Wells
Dade County I
58 Street
landfill .
- . .1 -
-
Oii im Site
I _
Well Field
j
= -
___ 2 .
11
Sca Iru lMsSe
0 05 10
20
______________Miami internatlonal Air
(111101 Spill Site)
4. ,‘- ,Sl
I M
F:igtir e 10. Biscayne Aquifer (Superftuid) Study Area
-------
IV-22
higher than the EPA criteria used for this study. The analytical technique
used did not distinguish between cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethene. Results
were reported as trans-1,2-dichoroethene. Based on other sampling results
for the area, observed contamination was probably cis-1,2—dichloroethene.
The Superfund study confirmed and expanded upon the results of the
DERM studies. Vinyl chloride and trans (cis)-1,2-dichloroethene contamina-
tion was detected the most frequently. A number of other purgeable organics
and other organic pollutants were detected, generally at low levels and at
scattered locations. The distribution of vinyl chloride, trans(cis)-1,
2-dichloroethene and total VOC contamination by geographical area is shown
below:
Mean VOC Levels By Area (pg/i)
Area
Total
VOC
Vinyl
Chloride
Trans-1,2-
dichloroethene
Hialeab
57
23
28
Upper Miami Springs
33
17
7.3
Lower Miami Springs
20
8.7
3.6
Airport (36th Street)
10
3.5
1.1
58th Street Landfill
6.2
0.31
0.53
Unsewered Industrial Area
1.0
0.25
0.25
Note that the mean vinyl chloride levels exceeded the screening crite-
rion and the Florida MCL in the Hialeah and Upper and Lower Miami Springs
weilfields and the airport area. Observed VOC concentrations were higher
in the water supply wells than in groundwater observation wells. No seasonal
trends could be discerned.
Wells sampled tapped three different vertical zones in the Biscayne
aquifer. Evaluation of VOC contamination levels by zone indicated that
contamination was significantly lower in the upper zone than the two lower
zones which were similar to each other.
-------
IV-23
The 1981 EPA Groundwater Supply Survey sampled only finished water. 18
The 1982 resurvey also evaluated selected supply wells.’ 9 Wells in North
Miami and North Miami Beach were sampled. The results confirmed the 1977-78
DERM study [ Table 4]. In North Miami, sampling of five wells at the Winson
(Westside) wellfield found that vinyl chloride and cis-1,2-dichloroethene
exceeded screening criteria in one well, and trichloroethylene and tetrachlo-
roethylene exceeded screening criteria and Florida MCLs in another well.
Total VOCs were 30 in one well.
In North Miami Beach, all eight of the wells sampled in the Sunny Isles
East Drive welifield had vinyl chloride levels in excess of the screening
criterion and Florida MCL. Vinylidene chloride exceeded the screening crite-
rion in four wells, and excessive cis-1,2-dichloroethene was present in seven
wells. Vinyl chloride ranged from 1-27 pg/. . Total VOCs up to 60 pg/.
were present in the wells.
WASA’s Medley weilfield west of the Hialeah-Preston wellfields was
placed in service in 1980. Complaints of taste and odor problems when the
wellfield was in use led to extensive testing of wellwater. 34 Major VOC
contamination was detected in the wells. The weilfield was permanently
taken out of service in 1982. Contamination (maximum levels in pg/2 )
included vinyl chloride (389), 1,1-dichioroethane (249), 1,1-dichloroethylene
(22), tetrachloroethylene (7), chlorobenzene (3) and dichlorobenzene.
DERM conducted another countywide study in 1982-83 to evaluate VOC
levels in water supplies. 33 Most of the samples were taken from the distri-
bution systems or finished water at treatment plants. Supply wells were
sampled at North Miami (Winson), North Miami Beach (Norwood), Southern Gulf
Utilities (Riverdale), Dade Utilities (Mansionette) and Alexander Orr. All
of these wellfields, except the Orr wellfield, are in northeast Dade County.
Wells Nos. 4 and 7 at the Winson wellfield were found to exceed screening
criteria for vinylidene chloride, cis-1,2-dichloroethene and tetrachioro-
ethylene, and Florida MCLs for trichloroethylene. These VOC levels were
similar to levels observed in 1978 [ Table 4]. The two wells sampled at
Norwood had low VOC levels below screening criteria, an improvement from
-------
IV- 24
1978. The two wells sampled at Riverdale had no detectable VOC contamination,
but vinylidene chloride exceeded screening criteria in finished water, sug-
gesting that contamination may have been present in other wells [ Table 4].
Composite raw water at Mansionette had a low level of vinylidene chloride,
exceeding the screening criterion which was an improvement from higher vinyl
chloride levels observed in 1977. At Alexander Orr, three wells in the Orr
and Snapper Creek welifields had low levels of vinylidene chloride, exceed-
ing the screening criterion; one well in the Orr weilfield exceeded the
Florida MCL for trichloroethylene.
Broward County
In Broward County, the only existing groundwater VOC data compiled for
this study were from the 1982 EPA resample’ 9 and extensive investigations
of the Fort Lauderdale Executive wellfield 39 and adjacent Hollingsworth
Solderless Terminal Superfund site. 2 ’ In the 1982 study, a total of 35
samples were taken from seven wellfields.’ 9 In the southeast part of the
county, four wells were sampled at Hallandale. One well contained cis-1,2-
dichloroethene (190 pg/fl and vinylidene chloride in excess of screening
ctiteria and trichlorethylene (24 pg/fl in excess of the Florida MCL. At
Hollywood, five samples were taken from a total of 11 wells. Vinylidene
chloride (max. 6 pg/fl was detected in excess of the screening criterion in
three samples. Trichioroethylene (max. 3 pg/fl exceeded the Florida MCL in
the other two samples. Two wells may have been responsible for this
contami nation.
In the Pembroke Pines System #2, Sunrise System #1, and Broward County
Utilities-Palmdale-1B weilfields, a total of eight wells were sampled with
no contamination exceeding screening criteria detected. At Pompano Beach,
five wells were sampled. One well had trichloroethylene present at 3.6
pg/i which exceeds the Florida MCL. Five wells were sampled at the Broward
County Utilities North District 2A wellfield in Pompano Beach. Two wells
had vinylidene chloride and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (max: 14 pg/ . ) in excess
of screening criteria.
-------
IV-25
Fort Lauderdale operates the Executive and Prospect wellfields in the
Executive Airport vicinity which supply the Five Ash treatment plant. Sev-
eral wells in the older Executive weilfield are highly contaminated with
VOCs, allegedly partially the result of illegal discharges of trichloroethyl-
ene at Hollingsworth Solderless Terminal Company, a Superfund site. One
well in the Executive field has been abandoned due to saltwater intrusion.
Six contaminated wells are used for emergencies only. An additional six
wells with significant contamination are used seasonally. The contamination
has not yet spread to the adjacent Prospect wellfield. However, the contam-
ination appears to be spreading in the Executive weilfield.
Analysis of samples from the Executive wellfield in 1982 by the Florida
Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) found very high lev-
els of vinyl chloride (2,010 pg/Z) and trans-1,2-dichloroethene (2,920 pg/i)
in one well and several hundred igI2 in other wells. 39 This is the highest
level of contamination reported in the study area. Other VOCs detected at
high levels included trichloroethylene (207 pgI.Q ) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane
(732 pg/i).
Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board has established a
county-wide network of groundwater quality monitoring wells [ Figure 11].
This network consists of 30 sets of two monitoring wells (three at Executive
Airport), one about 20 to 50 feet deep corresponding to shallow private and
non-community water supply wells in the area and the se cond well about 80
to 200 feet deep, depending on the producing zone depth of nearby large
community water supply wellfields. To provide an overview of general ground-
water quality in Broward County, EPA sampled this monitoring network in
February 1984 and conducted VOC analyses. Such data were not previously
available for Broward County.
Analytical results indicated that low levels of VOCs were present in
16 of the 58 wells sampled. At Deerfield Beach, trans-1,2-dichloroethene
was present in the 55-ft deep shallower well at a level of 8 pg/it that
exceeded screening criteria (#2 in Figure 11). This was the only well with
VOC contamination exceeding criteria. Benzene, xylene and toluene compounds
-------
C 0 La ‘•
E.
-{ _ w
NO. 2A
__ _ ía
;!ffL r ” ! ‘
ji • - “7Us ! - 4 .
—
!&
CORAL SPR ’.GS
A R E A
—
— — — — . —,
A’ y R ’40 SEACW
—I.’: -
IV- .26
.IIi
H,LL$SORO M
___ • .__ - -
-
MA RAC
AREA NO 8 F
• - _
-- - - - -h- 4
• t. — — — A - _FT LAUOERDAL . ‘
—— ... ___________ .
;fEr 1 :
ie 19
• .• . ..4 ; j
I , - - I I ’
_ ___ C
T L — - -
— I 1 - - - — : :. . !._
- A’
—-.-________ . ‘ _.t.•
a ____
—
•1 r
I _______
i-i--
Figure 11: Broward County Groundwater Monitoring Wells
-------
IV-27
were also present in this well at levels of 1-3 pgI2. Five other wells had
one or more benzene, toluene or xylene compounds present at levels of 1-8
pgI (#s 5, 6, 22, 27 and 29 in Figure 11). This contamination could pos-
sibly have been the result of contamination by the exhaust from the gasoline
engine driven pump during the well sampling. Four wells that had been
recently constructed had significant levels of tetrahydrofuran (8-4,000
pg/a) and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) (20-3,000 igIfl. These compounds are
solvents in PVC adhesives, so this contamination was most likely the result
of well construction. The shallow well west of Deerfield Beach (#3 in Fig-
ure 11) had 2 ig/ of trichloroethylerie and 0.5 pgI. of trans-1,2-dichloro-
ethene present. The deep well (157 feet) at Executive Airport (#12 in Fig-
ure 11) had 3 ig/2 of trans-1,2-dichloroethene present. This well is in
the contaminated portion of the Executive welifield. Other observed contam-
ination was 0.5 pg/. of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in Flamingo (#28 in Figure 11),
0.5 pg/ Z of 1,2-dichioroethane in Oak Ridge (#25 in Figure 11), and 1 ag/.
of cis—1,2-dichloroethane and 1 pg/i of chlorobenzene in the Dixie weilfield
(#17 in Figure 11).
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County data on VOC contamination of groundwater were limited
to the 1982 EPA resampling data, additional followup sampling at Riviera
Beach and Seacoast Utilities Richard Road system (Palm Beach Gardens), and
data on contamination of the Pratt-Whitney industrial plant supply. 22 In
the EPA study, seven wells in Lantana and Century Utilities (West Palm Beach)
welifields were sampled.’ 9 No VOC contamination was detected. At Seacoast
Utilities, eight wells were sampled at Richard Road. Trichloroethylene
(max. 58 pgI ) and tetrachloroethylene exceeded Florida MCLs in two wells.
Resampling by the utility found ICE at levels as high as 289 pg/L At Riviera
Beach, eight wells were sampled and three were found to have high VOC levels,
including cis-1,2-dichloroethene that exceeded screening criteria and 1,2-
dichloroethane, trichioroethylene and very high vinyl chloride (270 pg/i)
in excess of Florida MCLs. Other VOCs present included chlorobenzene, ethyl-
benzene and xylene. This contamination was confirmed by DER resampling in
January 1983.22
-------
IV- 28
At Pratt-Whitney, a major aircraft component manufacturing and research
facility in North Palm Beach County, several potable water wells onsite
have been contaminated with halogenated solvents by waste disposal activi-
ties. 22 Raw water sampled by EPA in March 1984 contained 140 Jg/. of chlo-
roethane, 70 ig/2 of 1,1-dichloroethane, 20 pgI2 of cis-1,2-dichloroethene,
10 pg/i of 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and 8 pg/i of vinyl chloride. Special
water treatement is used to remove this contamination.
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
The quality of drinking water in the study area is a function of ground-
water quality and the type of water treatment provided. In south Dade County,
groundwater quality is relatively good, and no water treatment other than
disinfection is provided for most public water supplies. Drinking water
quality in this area is thus groundwater quality with the addition of low
levels of trihalomethanes. In other areas of the study area, lime soften-
ing is commonly provided. Such treatment would be expected to have little
effect on volatile organic chemicals.
In the northern and middle parts of the study area, many of the public
water treatment plants provide aeration (usually simple cascade aeration)
for sulfide removal and improved iron removal. Such aeration may signifi-
cantly reduce some VOCs. The Fort Lauderdale Five Ash water treatment plant
has mechanical surface aeration that has demonstrated high vinyl chloride
removals. 22 The Sunny Isles treatment plant in North Miami Beach uses pow-
dered activated carbon and aeration to reduce various organic chemicals in
the finished water. 34 At Pratt-Whitney, multi—stage aeration is used to
essentially remove all VOC contamination present in the groundwater supply.
For these water supplies, drinking water may be of substantially better
quality than groundwater.
North of south Dade County, most water supplies treat for color removal.
In the past, this was usually done exclusively by chlorination. Unfortu-
nately, this resulted in very high levels (100 to 600 ig/. ) of trihalometh-
anes in the finished water. Because free chlorine residual disinfection
-------
IV-29
was practiced, more THMs were formed in the distribution system. Since
mid-1981, all public water supplies serving more than 75,000 persons have
been required by drinking water standards [ Appendix A] to maintain THM lev-
els in drinking water at less than 100 pg/2. Beginning on November 29,
1983, all public water supplies serving more than 10,000 persons were re-
quired to achieve the same standard. There are no THM limits applicable to
smaller supplies.
As discussed in the Previous Studies section, various methods of treat-
ment for THM reduction were investigated for area water supplies. These
included changing chlorination points in the treatment process, aeration,
activated carbon or resin filters and the chloramine process. In the latter
process, ammonia is added to the chlorinated water to quench the chlorina-
tion process and form chioramines (bacterial disinfectants). Chloramines
are used as a residual disinfectant in the distribution systems. By using
the chloramine process, WASA was able to reduce their previously high TI-IM
levels to an average of about 21 pg/i in 1982. Monitoring by DERM in
1982-83 indicated that all Dade County water supplies required to reduce
THMs to less than 100 pg/i by the December 1983 deadline were already well
below this limit except for the City of Opa-Locka (149 pg/i) and Southern
Gulf Utilities (Riverdale) (144 pgI ). 49 The Riverdale plant has since
shut down, and Opa-Locka has reduced THM levels to below the 100 pg/i limits.
The EPA sampling in early 1984 found high THM levels at several major water
supplies and a significant number of smaller supplies in the three counties.
Chloramine disinfection apparently has some difficulties. An April
1983 bacterial contamination outbreak in Miami Beach was traced to an ap-
parent correlation with low chloramine levels in the distribution system. 4 ’
Recent investigations by the Dade County Health Department have detected
unusually high levels (up to 1 mg/i) of nitrites in the outer areas of the
WASA distribution system. 4 ’ These seem to be related to the survival and
growth of nitrifying bacteria in the distribution system. Special operating
procedures are now being used to reduce nitrifying bacteria populations.
-------
IV-30
Drinking water quality is regulated by standards promulgated by DER
[ Appendix A]. These are essentially EPA’s primary and secondary drinking
water standards promulgated under authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Enforcement of the standards in Florida has been delegated to DER. DER has
in turn delegated enforcement to the three county health departments in the
study area but retains overall responsibility for enforcement.
The primary standards apply to all community public water supplies.
Maximum contaminant levels (MCL) are specified for inorganics (primarily
heavy metals, nitrates and fluoride), organics (six pesticides), turbidity,
bacteria, radionuclides and trihalomethanes. Only the nitrate and microbio-
logical limits apply to non-community water supplies obtained from
groundwater.
The secondary drinking water standards apply only to community water
supplies. They specify MCLs for several physical and inorganic chemical
characteristics of the water supply.
The county health departments regulate the quality of private drinking
water supplies. Only microbiological limits apply.
Public community water supplies regularly monitor for regulated water
characteristics. Any problems are quickly noted by the health departments
and appropriate actions taken to ensure safe drinking water of acceptable
quality. Major public community water supplies in the study area are thus
believed to be generally in compliance with drinking water standards.
State regulations require that non-community water supplies must meet
only the nitrate and microbiological standards. Monitoring is infrequent.
The status of compliance is not well defined. Many of the smaller non-
community supplies provide a minimum of water treatment and may only dis-
infect. Since chlorine disinfection is used, THM levels may be high. Water
quality in these systems would be expected primarily to reflect local ground-
water quality. In Dade County, certain non-community water supplies such
as schools and trailer parks must meet other quality parameters and are
regularly inspected.
-------
IV-31
There are thousands of private wells in the study area. Most are shallow
wells (<25 ft deep) and many have no treatment. On others, treatment may
range from disinfection to softening, iron removal and, in some cases, acti-
vated carbon filters (either the small faucet mounted units or larger home
filters). Water quality in the private systems could be expected to be
highly variable and be primarily dependant upon local groundwater quality.
Currently, there are no drinking water standards for volatile organic
chemicals, although Florida has promulgated standards that become effective
in 1985. As previously discussed in the groundwater quality section, EPA
has developed proposed recommended maximum contaminant levels (RMCLs) for
eight VOCs frequently found in drinking water. When promulgated, these
RMCLs will be health goals only and will not be enforceable limits. They
will not apply to private water supplies. They are still in the proposal
development stage and may change before proposal or promulgation. However,
the RMCLS do provide an indication of what EPA believes to be a lower limit
on significant levels of VOC contamination. For this reason, the RMCLs
were used as screening criteria to detect significant levels of VOC con-
tamination in the available VOC data on finished drinking water.
As previously discussed in the groundwater quality section, cis—and
trans-1,2-dichloroethene were frequently associated with vinyl chloride
contamination of groundwater. A level of 5 pg/. was used as screening cri-
teria for significant levels of cis- and trans-1,2-dichloroethene.
Florida has promulgated MCLs for eight VOCs that become effective in
June 1985 for community systems serving more than 1000 persons and in Jan-
uary 1987 for smaller community systems. These MCLs will be enforceable
limits. As shown in the table in the groundwater section, the MCLs are
slightly higher than the RMCLs being developed by EPA. This reflects adjust-
ments for analytical detection limits. Drinking water quality was also
screened against the MCLs to define supplies that may need to take steps to
reduce VOC levels before June 1985.
In the screening of available data on VOC concentrations in both ground-
water and finished drinking water, the compounds observed to most frequently
-------
IV-32
exceed screening criteria were vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, cis-1,
2-dichioroethene and trichloroethylene. Table 4 in the groundwater quality
section is a summary of VOC data on these four compounds in both welifields
and finished water for major public water supply systems for which data
existed prior to this EPA study. Because only limited data were available
on most systems, only the observed range was presented. No averages were
computed. Well data often represent only part of the available wells for
that supply. Screening criteria and the MCLs are presented, and systems
with VOC contamination exceeding criteria are flagged.
Several conclusions can be drawn from the data presented in Table 4
and the basic data from which the table was constructed. There appear to
be definite geographical differences in the levels of observed contamination.
In general, this can be related to proximity to industrial types of land
use. Other factors specific to some systems are discussed below.
Observed levels of contamination varied substantially among wells within
the same weilfield. This, coupled with the area differences, seemed to
indicate that contamination was probably primarily due to point sources
rather than broad-scale, non-point sources. As discussed in Section V,
several significant point sources have been identified.
Data in Table 4 were primarily derived from the DERM and 1982 EPA stu-
dies discussed in the groundwater quality section. Additional data on fin-
ished water were obtained from the 1983 DERM county-wide study 33 , the 1981
and 1982 EPA groundwater supply study’ 9 , and from the 1984 EPA sampling.
Table 4 lists all public water supplies for which data on VOC contami-
nation were available prior to start of this study. Data were available on
most community systems in Dade County but only about 10% of the community
systems in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. No data were available on non-
community supplies or private domestic wells. The frequency of occurrence
and observed levels of VOC contamination of the supplies for which data
were available suggested the need to screen the other public water supplies,
for which no data were available, to determine if similar patterns of contam-
ination existed in these supplies.
-------
IV- 33
In cooperation with DER and local agencies, EPA conducted an extensive
sampling of public water supplies during February-May 1984. Essentially
all community water supplies in Broward (45) and Palm Beach (72) Counties
were sampled. In Dade County, 18 community supplies were sampled. The
main Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) system, including the Alex-
ander Orr, John Preston, Hialeah and South Miami Heights treatment plants,
was not sampled because of extensive existing data. In addition, a repre-
sentative sample (about 15%) of non-community supplies was sampled in each
county. This included 17 systems in Broward County, 21 in Dade County and
45 in Palm Beach County. Altogether, 135 community and 83 non-community
supplies were sampled.
At each water supply, a sample of finished water was obtained and ana-
lyzed for purgeable volatile organic chemicals. If water treatment included
aeration, a sample of raw water was also obtained for VOC analysis. In
this manner, data on VOC removal at existing treatment plants were also
obtai ned.
The results of the EPA study of community systems are presented alpha-
betically by county in Table 5. Results for non-community systems are pre-
sented in Table 6. Data for community systems listed previously in Table 4
also are incorporated in that table. The locations of water supplies sam-
pled by EPA are shown in Figures 12-19.
The VOCs most often observed by the EPA study were trihalomethanes
(predominantly chloroform), cis or trans-1,2-dichloroethene, 1,2-dichloro-
ethane (ethylene dichloride), trichloroethylene (ICE) and vinyl chloride.
Tables 5 and 6 list the observed concentration for these substances.
Observed concentrations exceeding study screening criteria or Florida MCLs
are flagged.
The results of the EPA sampling indicate that for most public water
supplies, VOC contamination of groundwater is not a problem. For several
major community systems, groundwater contamination has been a problem but
is currently being adequately managed. In a few cases, V 1C contamination
-------
IV-34
Table 5
OBSERVED LEVELS OF VOCs IN COMMUNITY
WATER SUPPLIES
(i gR)
Map
Keya
System
Name
Total
THM ’
Total
non_THMC
Cis/d
trans EDCe
Vinyl
ICE Chloride
Broward County (See Figure 13 )
1 Acme Mobile Home Park 2
2 Broadview Park Water Co. 269* ND
3 Broadview Utilities Co. 272* ND
4 Broward Co. -1A 38 ND
(Lauderdale Lakes)
5 Broward Co. -2A (North District)
Finished Water 7 ND
Raw Water #5 ND 1
Raw Water #6 ND 2 2
6 Broward Co. -3A (Playland
Isles) 16 ND
7 Broward Co. -36 (High Ridge-
Lake Forest) 48 ND
8 Broward Correctional Inst. 331* ND
9 Cooper City Utilities East 281* ND
10 Cooper City Utilities West 238* ND
11 Coral Springs Improvement 8 ND
12 Coral Springs, City of 106* ND
13 Crystal Lakes MHP 141* ND
14 Dania, City of
Finished Water 168* ND
Raw Water 3 ND
15 Davie Utilities 59 ND
16 Deerfield Beach, City of 36 ND
17 Deerfield Lake MHP 1 ND
18 El Rancho MHP 5 ND
19 Ferncrest Utilities 124* ND
Ft. Lauderdale, City of
20 Five Ash Finished Water 60 ND
21 Peele-Dixie Finished Water 55 ND
Peele-Dixie Raw Water 6 0.7 0.7
22 Gulf Stream Utility Cc. 334* 7
23 Hallandale, City of
Finished Water 10 0.9 0.9
Raw Water ND 1.6
24 Hillsboro Beach, Town of 31 NOb
25 Hilisboro MHP NS NS
26 Hollywood, City of 33 2 2
27 Lauderhill, City of 52 ND
28 Margate, City of 61 ND
-------
IV-35
Table 5
OBSERVED LEVELS OF VOCs IN COMMUNITY
WATER SUPPLIES
(pgI )
Map
Keya
System
Name
To41
THM ’
Total
non-THtvf
Cis/d
trans EDCe
Vinyl
ICE Chloride
Broward County
29 Miramar, City of
Finished Water 150* ND
Raw Water ND 1 1
30 New Mark Glenn MHP 39 ND
31 N. Lauderdale, City of 18 ND
32 Ocean Waterway MHP 70 ND
33 Parkland Utilities 208* ND
34 Pembroke Pines, City of (#1) 249* ND
35 Pembroke Pines, City of (#2) 229* ND
36 Pembroke Pines, City of
(Holly Lake) 353* 58**
37 Plantation, City of
Finished Water 18 2 2
Raw Water East 12 1 1
Raw Water West 4 2 2
38 Pompano Beach, City of 67 31 22*
39 Seminole Industries 132* 0.9 0.9
40 Sunrise, City of (#1) 6 ND
41 Sunrise, City of (#2) 80 ND
42 Tamarac, City of 33 ND
43 Taylor Trailer Park 112* ND
44 University Utilities 90 ND
45 Coral Lake MHP NS NS
Dade County (See Figure 12 )
1 Americana Village 80 ND
2 Boystown of Florida 1 ND
3 Florida City 21 ND
4 Florida Keys Aqueduct Comm. 12 ND
5 Homestead AFB 4 ND
6 Homestead, City of 8 0.7
7 Jones Fish Camp 5 ND
8 Laguna Palms MHP 30 ND
9 N. Miami, City of (Winson)
Finished Water 12 7 5*** 2
Raw Water ND 9 7*** 2
N. Miami Beach, City of
10 Norwood Finished Water 108* 2 2
11 Sunny Isles Finished Water 15 15 10 2*
12 Opa-Locka, City of
Finished Water 68 4 2
Raw Water ND 5 2
-------
IV-36
Table 5
OBSERVED LEVELS OF VOCs IN COMMUNITY
WATER SUPPLIES
(pg/ f l
Mapa
Key
System
Name
Tot l
THM ’
Total
non_THMC
Cis/d
trans EDCe
Vinyl
ICE Chloride
13 Pak Kan MHP 2 ND
14 Quail Roost MHP 20 ND
15 Redlands MHP 1 ND
16 Rex Utilities-Leisure City NS NS
17 Rex Utilities-Redavo 9 ND
18 Silver Palm MHP 4 ND
Palm Beach County (SeeFigures 14 and 15 )
1 Acme Improvement District
Finished Water 310* ND
Raw Water ND ND
2 Akers Away Trailer Park 364* ND
3 Anchorage MHP ND ND
4 Arrowhead Village MHP 274* 0.5
5 Atlantis Utilities
Finished Water 116* ND
Raw Water ND ND
6 Blue Sky MHP 8 ND
7 Boca Raton, City of 20 2
8 Boulevard Trailer Park ND ND
9 Boynton Beach, City of 23 ND
10 Brierwood Apartments 61 ND
11 Casa Loina Trailer Park 25 ND
12 Century Vil.-Century Util. 108* ND
13 Colonial Estates MHP 214* ND
14 Consolidated Utilities Co.
Finished Water 294* ND
Raw Water ND ND
15 Delray Beach Water Dept.
Finished Water 60 ND
Raw Water ND 1
16 Florar,da Trailer Park 21 0.8 0.8
17 Florida Water Service—
Lake Clark NS NS
18 Florida Water Service- 202* ND
Seminole Manor
19 Fred’s Motel
Finished Water 4 ND
Raw Water ND ND
20 Garden Lane Apartments 50 ND
21 Gulfstream Water Dept. NS NS
22 Harney’s Trailer Park 5 ND
23 Highland Beach Water Plant 189* ND
24 Highland Trailer Park 50 ND
25 Holley, A. G. , State Hospital 49 ND
-------
1%I
IV —.)
Table 5
OBSERVED LEVELS OF VOCs IN COMMUNITY
WATER SUPPLIES
( g/fl
MaPa
Key
System
Name
Tot l
THW
Total
non-THM
Cis/d
trans EDCe
Vinyl
ICE Chloride
26 Hypoluxo MHP ND ND
27 In the Pines 20 ND
28 Jamaica Bay MHP 197* ND
29 Juno Beach Mobile Court 29 2 2 *
30 Juno Beach Water Dept. NS NS
31 Jupiter, Town of 20 ND
32 Kokomo MHP 176* ND
33 Lake Worth Utilities Auth. 5 ND
34 Lake Worth Village MHP 234* ND
35 Lantana, Town of
Finished Water 84 ND
Raw Water ND ND
36 Lindaa Trailer Park 20 ND
37 Loxahatchee Road Prison
Finished Water 7 2 2***
Raw Water ND 4 2 2***
38 Manalapan Water Dept.
Finished Water 116* ND
Raw Water 7 ND
39 Mangonia Park Utility Co. 6 ND
40 Mayacoo Lakes Country Club 2 ND
41 Meadowbrook
Finished Water 176* ND
Raw Water ND ND
42 Melaleuca Trailer Park 4 ND
43 Monet Acres 66 ND
44 Northern Pines MHP 12 ND
45 Palm Beach Co. -SCR #1 247* ND
46 Palm Beach Co. -ECR #2
Finished Water 220* 0.5 0.5
Raw Water 2 6 6***
47 Palm Beach Co. -SCR #2 279* ND
48 Palm Beach Co. -ECR #3
Finished Water 225* ND
Raw Water 1 ND
49 Palm Beach Co. Utility
(Pike Utility) NS NS
50 Palm Beach Faith Farm
51 Palm Springs, Village of 98 ND
52 Parry Trailer Village ND ND
53 Palm Beach Co. (Pheasant Trail) MS NS
54 Pine Grove Village 33 ND
55 Riviera Beach, City of
Finished Water 138* 3 3*
Raw Water ND 10 10*
56 Royal Manor MHP 222* ND
-------
IV-38
Table 5
OBSERVED LEVELS OF VOCs IN COMMUNITY
WATER SUPPLIES
( gR)
Mapa
Key
System
Name
Tot l
THM ’
Total
non THW
Cis/d
trans
EDCe
ICE
Vinyl
Chloride
57
Royal Palm Beach Utilities
Finished Water
154*
ND
Raw Water
ND
ND
58
Royal Palm MHP
5
ND
59
S. Palm Beach Utilities
53
ND
Seacoast Utilities
60
Hood Road
Finished Water
10
2
2***
Raw Water
ND
ND
61
Lilac Street
Finished Water
15
ND
Raw Water
ND
1.4
0.7
62
Richard Road
Finished Water
11
5
3
2*
Raw Water
ND
33
15***
17*
63
Sherwood Villas Apartments
2
ND
64
Sunshine Meadows
66
ND
65
Sunshine Trailer Park
36
ND
66
Tequesta Water Dept.
Finished Water
49
ND
Raw Water
ND
ND
6]
Topper House Apartments
5
ND
68
Tropical Terrace
ND
ND
69
Twin Lakes MHP
52
ND
70
Village of Golf
760*
0.5
71
West Palm Beach, City of
5
ND
72
Woodhaven Villas
61
ND
a See Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 for locations of systems.
b Total trihalomethanes are the sum of observed concentrations of chloroform, bro-
mo form, bromodichioromethane and dibromochioromethane.
c Sum of all other observed purgea.ble volatile organic chemicals
d Cis and/or trans-i ,2-dichloroethene
e 1,2-dichloroethane or ethylene dichloride
f Trichioroethylene or trichloroethene
g Not detected at limit of detection for analytical method used
h Not sampled
* Exceeds Florida DER maximum contaminant levels
** Sample contaminated with toluene, benzene and x .jlene compounds and methyl iso-
butyl ketone.
Exceeds study screening criteria
-------
IV-30
Table 6
OBSERVED LEVELS OF VOCs IN NON-COMMUNITY
WATER SUPPLIES
(pg/fl
Map
Keya
System
Name
Total
THM ’
Total
non-Thtvf
CisId
trans EDCe
Vinyl
TCE Chloride
Broward County (See Figure 17 )
1 Ambassador Christian Academy 81
2 Dairy Queen 77 2 2
3 Everglades Holiday Park 344* ND
4 Gate City, Inc. 10 ND
5 Golf Manor Bldg. A 2 ND
6 Greenburg Warehouse #1 ND 2 2
7 Hollywood Free Will Bapt. Ch. 20 ND
8 Marino’s Restaurant 1 ND
9 Math Igler Groves 3 ND
10 New England Seafood 24 ND
11 Oak Ridge Country Club 6 ND
12 Orange Tree 2 ND
13 Pompano Turnpike Plaza 277* 6**
14 Seminole Health Club 27 ND
15 Seminole Truck Stop 20 ND
16 Tradewinds Park 55 ND
17 Tree Tops Park 10 ND
Dade County (See Figure 16 )
1 Andersons Corner Grocery ND ND
2 Birdlis V. Rental Bldg. ND 0.9
3 Capriccio Restaurant 7 1
4 Century 21 ND 20.5**
5 Exxon Oil-Kents Station 0.9 ND
6 FL-DOT Maintenance Yard 90 1
7 Gateway Inn ND ND
8 Gulfstream Steel , Inc. ND ND
9 Kentucky Fried Chicken 1 0.8 0.8
10 KOA Campground 5.7 5
11 Levine, S. L.,
Red Sunset Bldg. ND 6 1 5
12 Magram Dairy Queen 8.8 ND
13 Marrero Shell Station 3 1
14 Metatherapy Institute 3.7 ND
15 Motor Service 462* 16**
16 Pit Bar BQ 17.9 0.7 0.7
17 Rinker-Portland Cement Corp. 47.5 ND
18 Road Runner Inn ND 0.8
19 Southwest Alliance Church 65 ND
20 Westland Country Club 228* ND
21 Wollard Aircraft Equip. ND 74**
Corp.
-------
IY_4Q
Table 6
OBSERVED LEVELS OF VOCs IN NON-COMMUNITY
WATER SUPPLIES
(p gI. )
Map
Keya
System
Name
To4l
THM&
Total
non_THMC
Cis/d
trans EDCe
Vinyl
TCE Chloride
Palm Beach county (see Figures 18 and 19 )
1 Anchor Inn ND ND
2 Banyan Golf Club 5 ND
3 Barnett Bank ND ND
4 Bedner Labor Camp NO ND
5 Boynton Beach Lions Club 17 ND
6 Brass Bull ND ND
7 Byrd’s Grocery ND ND
8 Calvary Baptist Church ND ND
9 Calvin’s House 4 ND
10 Coca Cabana ND ND
11 Congress Restaurant 10 ND
12 Copper Kettle Restaurant ND ND
13 Cumberland Farm Store ND ND
14 Daisey Fresh Budget Store 5 NO
15 Delray Skateway ND ND
16 Everglades Youth Camp
Finished Water 135* ND
Raw Water ND ND
17 First Baptist Church—
Greenacres NO ND
18 Frat House Restaurant ND 20 10 10*
19 Good Samaritan Hospital 24 1
20 Gulfstream Trailer Park 50 ND
21 Hagen Road Elementary School 322* ND
22 Holiday Country Club Golf 2 ND
23 Indian Hills Groves ND 1
24 L. W. McNamara & Sons 5 ND
25 Lake Worth Raquet Club ND 1 1*
26 Lil General Store 3 ND
27 Lion Country Safari 210* ND
28 Military Trail Golf Club ND ND
29 Mill & Bill Bar ND ND
30 Ocean Way MHP ND ND
31 Paco’s Tortillas NO ND
32 Palm Beach Trap & Skeet Club 2 ND
33 Plush Pony South ND ND
34 Pratt-Whitney Aircraft
Finished Water 382* ND
Raw Water 1 250 20*** 8*
35 Royal Palm Polo ND ND
36 Scotchel Office Bldg. ND ND
-------
IV-41
Table 6
OBSERVED LEVELS OF VOCs IN NON-COMMUNITY
WATER SUPPLIES
(pg/2)
Map
Keya
System
Name
To41
THW
Total
non_THMC
Cis/d
trans
£ Vinyl
EDGe TCE Chloride
37
Short Stop Convenience
280*
ND
38
Sportman’s Inn West
60
ND
39
Step Saver #45
NO
ND
40
Sunshine Preschool
10
4
4*
41
T’s
3
ND
42
Trinity Assembly of God Ch.
ND
ND
43
Vince’s Deli
ND
NO
44
Williamson’s Country Store
ND
ND
45
Winkle Oil Truck Stop
ND
ND
a See Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19 for locations of systems.
b Total trihalomethanes are the sum of observed concentrations of chloroform, bro-
ma form, bromodichiorornethane and dibromochloromethane.
c Sum of all other observed purgeable volatile organic chemicals
d Cis and/or trans-1,2-dichloroethene
e 1,2-dichloroethane or ethylene dichioride
f Trichloroethylene or trichioroethene
g Not detected at limit of detection for analytical method used
h Not sampled
* Exceeds Florida DER maximum contaminant levels
** Sample contaminated with toluene, benzene and xylene compounds
Exceeds study screening criteria
-------
.7 . , ..
7 .
LEGEND
-- Water System Sampled
Name
-‘-
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I
1 •
F
.1
_L ...
%L...-
-4 :1 - -— ., ‘
I _
- + + : ‘ t:i
+ -±j -
k< _
- [ 11
H . . I
-
_ ::: r .
_______ ______ ______ —
iriviL. —
: \. ‘ ‘ 1.1:
• ‘k -ti - r’ -.
i;. nI —
I- I . . JL
V
.55• .42
1
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Figure 12: Community Water Supplies Sampled in Dade County
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Figure 13:
Community Liater Supplies Sampled in Broward County
C C
IV-43
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Figure 14:
Community Water Supplies Sampled in South Palm Beach County
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IV—45
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Figure 15:
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* - - VOCs Exceed MCLs
12 - - System Number - See
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Figure 16: Non-Comunity Water Supplies Sampled in Dade County
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I.
IV-46
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IV-47
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-- Water System Sampled
-- VOCs Detected
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12 - - System Number - See
Table 6 for System
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Figure 17: Non—Community Water Supplies Sampled in Broward County
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Figure 19: Non-Community Water Supplies Sampled in North Palm Beach County
-------
IV-50
exceeds Florida MCLs in finished water, and reduction of this contamination
is needed.
The EPA sampling also indicates that trihalomethanes still exceed MCLs
in a number of community supplies, although most major supplies have achieved
major reductions in THMs in recent years.
The current status of public water supplies with respect to VOC contam-
ination is discussed below by county, beginning with south Dade county and
moving northward through Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
Dade County
There are definite area] differences in the level and frequency of VOC
contamination of water supplies in Dade County. South of the Tamiami Trail
(US Highway 41) [ Figure 2], both the level and frequency of contamination
are low. In contrast, in northwest Miami and in northeast Dade County,
several major water supply systems have significant levels of VOC
contami nati on.
In the Homestead area of southeast Dade County between Florida City
and Princeton, there are four main water supply systems serving about 135,000
persons 49 [ Figure 12]. The Florida Keys Aqueduct, which supplies water to
the Florida Keys offshore, has its welifield southwest of Florida City.
Both Florida City and Homestead have their own water supplies. The remainder
of the area is supplied by the former Rex Utilities system now operated by
WASA. Six water treatment plants (Coronado Heights, Elevated Tank, Everglades
Labor Camp, Leisure City, Naranja Park and Newton) feed an interconnected
distribution system. The separate Redavo treatment plant serves an isolated
area. Most of these well fields were sampled during the wet season in 1977.16
Vinyl chloride in excess of the Florida MCL was reportedly detected in a
number of wells. The dry season sampling in late 1977-early 1978 did not
detect this contamination. The 1983 study that sampled only Leisure City,
Newton and Redavo found vinylidene chloride slightly in excess of screening
criteria but no significant vinyl chloride. 33 Sampling by EPA in 1984 at
-------
IV-5 1
Leisure City and Redavo did not detect any significant VOC contamination
[ Table 5].
The area southwest of Miami between Coral Gables and the Homestead
area, including Goulds, Cutler Ridge and Richmond Heights, is primarily
served by WASA-operateci systems [ Figure 12]. WASA’s South Miami Heights
plant serves much of the area with water from the Alexander Orr plant also
entering the area from the north. Three former Florida Water and Utilities
plants (Green Hills, Kings Bay and Pine Meadows) and the Palmetto Country
Club plant are on a standby basis. The Cutler Ridge, Coral Reef, Fairway
Park and Marcia Jane plants have been shut down. A small area (10,000 per-
sons) is served by the South Dade Utilities (Bel Aire and Pt. Royale) plants.
In 1977, vinyl chloride approximating the Florida MCL was detected at Kings
Bay and Pt. Royale. 16 In 1983, low levels of trichioroethylene, tetrachlo-
roethylene and vinylidene chloride well below screening criteria were detected
in the South Dade Utilities system. 33 The WASA system was clean. The entire
area appears to have a low contamination potential. Existing data are ade-
quate for screening purposes. Periodic resampling would be desirable to
detect any increase in contamination.
There were 14 non-community water supplies sampled by EPA in the south
part of the county. Many of these are along South Dixie Highway (US-i)
[ Figure 16]. Eight of these systems had detectable VOC contamination other
than THMs [ Table 6]. Toluene was present at about 1 ig/2 at the Birdlis
Rental Building, Capriccio Restaurant, FL-DOT Maintenance Yard, Marrero
Shell Station and Road Runner Inn and at S pg/Pa at the KOA Campground.
Trans-i, 2-dichloroethene was present at 1 pg/9 at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
At the S. L. Levine Red Sunset Building, vinyl chloride was detected at the
significant level of 5 pgI2., exceeding the Florida MCL applicable to com-
munity supplies but not to this system.
To the west of Miami, two non-community supplies were sampled [ Fig-
ure 16]. The supply at the Pit Bar BQ Restaurant had a low level of trans-i,
2-dichioroethene [ Table 6].
-------
IV-52
WASA’s Alexander Orr treatment plant in southwest Miami is the largest
plant in the study area, serving about a half million people in the south
half of Miami and area to the southwest. 49 Most of the 24 wells supplying
this plant are clean or have only traces of VOC contamination [ Table 4].
Three wells in the plant wellfield and one in the Snapper Creek welifield
had vinylidene chloride contamination slightly exceeding the screening cri-
terion. 33 One well at the plant had trichioroethylene contamination exceed-
ing the Florida MCL. The Southwest weilfield was clean of VOC contamination.
The low levels of contamination present in the few wells are diluted to
very low levels by the clean wells. Data on these welifields are adequate
for screening purposes. Periodic resampling of these wells, especially
those with known contamination, to detect any changes would be desirable.
WASA’s other large system is supplied by the interconnected Hialeah
and Preston water treatment plants and serves about a half million persons
in the north half of Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah and other adjacent com-
munities. 49 The nearly adjacent Hialeah and Preston treatment plants are
currently served by five weilfields including two plant weilfields, the
Upper and Lower Miami Springs wellfields and the new Northwest (formerly
Three Square Mile) welifield. The two plant wellfields and the Miami Springs
weilfields have moderate to high levels of VOC contamination as shown in
Table 4. Vinyl chloride is the contaminant of most concern. Vinyl chloride
levels in the distribution system of 3 to 6 ig/ and up to 37 pg/2 in the
Preston finished water had been detected prior to the phasing in of the
Northwest wellfield in 1983. An additional new welified (the Medley well-
field) was placed in service in 1980 but was found to have high levels of
organic chemical contamination shortly thereafter. Its use was phased out
in 1982. The large Northwest wellfield with 15 wells was phased in during
1983. It has no detected VOC contamination and is in an undeveloped area.
Beginning in May 1983, the Northwest wellfield was phased in as wells
became available. The use of old wells in the Hialeah, Preston and Miami
Springs welifields was gradually reduced. More than 90% of the Hialeah-
Preston water supply is now obtained from the Northwest weilfield. The
dilution effect of the Northwest supply has substantially reduced VOC levels
-------
IV-53
in the distribution system. Finished water from both the Hialeah and Preston
treatment plants now meets Florida MCLs for VOCs.
The Hialeah-Preston system has been extensively sampled and evaluated,
and wellfield contamination problems are well documented. No further scre-
ening data are needed. However, due to the known contamination of four of
the five weilfields, regular VOC monitoring of finished water is needed to
ensure that VOC levels remain low.
EPA sampled five non-community water supplies in the northwest Miami
area in 1984 [ Figure 16]. The three supplies along the west side of the
Palmetto Expressway south of Medley had significant VOC contamination simi-
lar to that observed by the Superfund study of this portion of the Biscayne
Aquifer. The Century 21 Building had 10 pg/2 of chlorobenzene and 0.5 pgIP
of toluene present in its supply. The Wollard Aircraft Equipment Corporation
had 70 pg/. of chiorotoluene and 4 pg/i of chlorobenzene present in its
supply. The Motor Service supply contained 14 pg/. of methylene chloride
and 2 pg/2 of carbon tetrachioride. THMs were very high at 462 pgI2. At
Westland Country Club, no VOCs were detected, but THMs were high at 228
pg/i. No MCLs have been established for chlorobenzene, chiorotoluene, meth-
ylene chloride or toluene.
There are five major public water supply systems serving the northeast
Dade County area that includes North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-Locka,
Carol City and Norland [ Figure 12]. The largest system is in the city of
North Miami Beach which serves about 160,000 persons in the city and another
25,000 persons through three utilities that purchase bulk water from North
Miami Beach. Treated water was formerly supplied by three treatment plants:
Myrtle Grove, Norwood (Oeffler) and Sunny Isles. The Myrtle Grove plant
was shut down in 1982, and bulk water is being purchased from WASA (Hialeah-
Preston system). This accounts for the elevated VOC levels observed in
1983 in the distribution system [ Table 4]. Current VOC levels should approx-
imate Hialeah-Preston finished water previously discussed. At the Norwood
system, cis-1,2-dichloroethene in excess of screening criteria was observed
in some wells in 1977-78 [ Table 4] and was present at 2 pg/i in finished
-------
IV-54
water during the 1984 EPA sampling. Vinylidene chloride in excess of the
screening criterion was detected in 1983. Finished water appears to cur-
rently meet Florida MCLs. Due to the known presence of VOCs in some wells,
regular monitoring of VOC levels in finished water should be performed to
ensure VOC levels remain low.
The Sunny Isles water treatment plant obtains its water supply from
the remote East Drive wellfield. The old weilfield at the plant has been
abandoned. The 1977-78 DERM study detected high levels of VOC contamination
in the East Drive wellfield [ Table 4] 16 Total VOC levels were the highest
observed in any Dade County wells at that time. As indicated in Table 4,
all four VOCs exceeded screening criteria. The plant wells also had sign-
ificant VOC contamination.
The 1977 detection of VOC contamination led to changes in the Sunny
Isles operation. After testing several approaches, powdered activated car-
bon (PAC) fed into the existing treatment system was selected as a method
for reducing VOC levels in finished water. Aeration is also practiced.
Preferential use is made of the least contaminated wells to reduce VOC lev-
els in raw water. As shown in Table 4, vinyl chloride levels in finished
water were still significantly above the screening criterion in 1981 and
1982 after PAC feed had been initiated.’ 9 The 1984 EPA sampling indicated
that VOC levels have been reduced since 1982, but vinyl chloride (2 ig/ )
still exceeds the Florida MCL. The Sunny Isles plant is scheduled to be
phased out in 1984, and bulk water purchased from WASA (Hialeah-Preston
system). This change in water supply would eliminate the current contami-
nation in this system. If this change should be delayed, regular monitoring
of VOC levels should be conducted to ensure that VOC levels are maintained
as low as practical.
North Miami serves about 67,000 persons with water from its Winson
(Westside) treatment plant and bulk purchased water from WASA (Hialeah-
Preston system). 49 The bulk purchases replace the supply from the Eastside
plant that has been shut down. Data reported for the Eastside distribution
system in 1983 [ Table 4] reflect Hialeah-Preston finished water quality.
-------
IV—55
Sampling data [ Table 4] over the last 7 years indicate significant VOC
contamination in the Winson system for the entire period.’ 6 19 In 1983,
vinylidene chloride slightly exceeded the screening criterion in the dis-
tribution system and wells. 35 Cis-1,2-dichloroethene and trichioroethylene
exceeded criteria in the wells and were elevated in the distribution system
in 1983. The 1984 EPA data indicate that trichloroethylene is present in
finished water slightly below the Florida MCL, and that cis-1,2-dichloro-
ethene exceeds the screening criterion.
The City of Opa-Locka operates one treatment plant serving about 15,000
persons. 49 In 1977, VOC contamination of wells exceeded the Florida MCL
for vinyl chloride and the screening criterion for cis-1,2-dichloroethene
[ Table 4].16 Data on finished water in 1983 indicate that low levels of
vinyl chloride, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene and trichloroethylene were present.
These compounds were below detection limits in 1984. —
Southern Gulf Utilities serves about 26,000 persons in north Dade Coun-
ty. 49 About 18,000 persons in the Riverdale area until recently were sup-
plied by the Riverdale treatment plant. This plant has been closed, and
finished water is now supplied by WASA (Hialeah-Preston system). Bulk water
purchased from the City of North Miami Beach (Norwood system) is supplied
to 8,000 persons in the Skylake area. Contamination levels in the Riverdale
system are generally low, with the exception of vinylidene chloride which
was detected above the screening criterion in 1983 [ Table 4].33
About 8,000 persons were served until recently by Dade Utilities’ Man-
sionette treatment plant. Observed VOC levels in 1983 were low, but vinyli-
dene chloride exceeded the screening criterion in the raw water, and trictilo-
roethylene was present in the finished water [ Table 4]. This area is now
served by WASA. No non-community water supplies were sampled in northeast
Dade County, and none are listed in the water supply inventory.
THM levels in all community water supplies in Dade County sampled by
EPA in 1984 were below the 100 igR MCL, except for a level of 108 pg/i
detected in the Norwood system. Two non-community supplies exceeded the
THM limit [ Table 6].
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IV-56
Broward County
Prior to the 1984 EPA study, data on VOC contamination of public water
supplies in Broward County were only available for seven community systems
monitored by the 1981 and 1982 EPA Ground Water Supply Survey and the Ft.
Lauderdale Five Ash system [ Table 4]. 19 22 Five of these systems had detect-
able VOC contamination in wells and/or finished water. No data were avail-
able on non-community systems. These data were inadequate to define the
scope of VOC contamination of water supplies in Broward County.
In early 1984, EPA sampled 45 community and 18 non-community water
supply systems for VOC analysis. This represents essentially all community
water supplies in the county that have their own weilfields. About 15% of
non-community systems were sampled. Data on total trihalomethanes and other
VOCs most often detected in the community and non—community water supplies
are presented in the Broward County sections of Tables 5 and 6, respectively.
System locations are shown in Figures 13 and 17.
The 1984 study detected VOC contamination (other than THMs) in raw
water and/or finished water at 10 community and three non-community supplies.
This was the initial detection of contamination at six community and the
three non-community supplies. All of the contamination detected in finished
water was below Florida MCLs, with the exception of the city of Pompano
Beach. Systems with detectable VOC contamination are discussed below.
With respect to trihalomethanes, 17 of the 45 community systems sampled
had total trihalomethanes in excess of the 100 pg/i MCL applicable to com-
munity supplies serving more than 10,000 persons. Six of the systems with
high THMs (Cooper City East, Coral Springs, Dania, Gulf Stream Utility Co.,
Miramar and Pembroke Pines) serve more than 10,000 persons. All 17 systems
are flagged in Table 5. Two non-community systems (Everglades Holiday Park
and Pompano Turnpike Plaza) also had high THMs [ Table 6].
The city of Pompano Beach provided a water supply to about 70,000 per-
sons from a wellfield at the Pompano Beach Airport. In 1981, trichioro-
ethylene (ICE) was detected at 19 pg/. in finished water [ Table 4].19
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IV-57
Lower levels were detected in finished water and wells in 1982.19 However,
only five of 16 wells were sampled. The 1984 sampling detected 22 pg/ . of
ICE in finished water, about 7 times the Florida MCL. Cis-1,2-dichloroethene
was also detected in excess of the screening criterion. This significant
level of contamination, higher than in 1981 and 1982, suggests the need for
monitoring of all wells to detect the sources of contamination. Steps should
also be taken to reduce the ICE level to below the MCL. Industrial areas
are near the airport.
Ft. Lauderdale has two water systems. The Peele-Dixie water treatment
plant and welifield service about one-fourth the 240,000 population served.
The 1984 EPA study detected 0.7 pg/i of trans-1,2-dichloroethene in the
composite raw water but none in the finished water. The treatment includes
aeration.
The major Five Ash water treatment plant serves the bulk of the Ft.
Lauderdale system. Water supply is obtained from two welifields: Executive
surrounding the Executive Airport runways and Prospect around Prospect Lake
west of the airport. Prospect is the newer wellfield and provides most of
the supply. One well in the Executive weilfield has been shut down due to
salt water intrusion. Nine wells are on emergency standby only, and six
wells are used only seasonally.
Sampling of the eastern wells in the Executive Weilfield in 1982 detec-
ted very high levels of VOC contamination in some wells [ Table 4].22 Vinyl
chloride and cis-1,2-dichloroethene exceeded 2,000 pg/2., and trichioroethyl-
erie exceeded 200 pg/i in some samples. This was the highest level of VOC
contamination of public water supply wells in the study area that has been
documented. Sampling at the Five Ash treatment plant in 1982 indicated
that VOC contamination of the composite raw water from all wells operating
was also high [ Table 4]. Aeration in the treatment plant was removing more
than 90% of the VOC contamination, but vinyl chloride (5 g/ ) still exceeded
the Florida MCL in finished water.
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IV-58
The 1984 EPA sampling of finished water at the Five Ash plant indicated
that VOC levels were below detection limits. Aeration at the treatment
plant, in combination with shutdown of contaminated wells, appears to be
maintaining acceptable quality finished water. The city of Ft. Lauderdale
conducts periodic monitoring of raw and finished water and individual wells.
Although finished water now meets drinking water standards, the Execu-
tive weilfield contamination is of concern. Should an extended dry period
like that which occurred in 1971 occur again, use of the contaminated standby
wells might be necessary, and VOC contamination of finished water could be
the result.
Well monitoring data over the last 3 years suggest that the contami-
nated goundwater might be migrating westward which could result in contami-
nation of additional wells.
None of the other VOC contamination detected in community supplies
exceeded Florida MCLs or EPA screening criteria. The small city of Pembroke
Pines Holly Lake system had significant VOC contamination in the finished
water for which no screening criteria have been established. There were 30
pg/i of methyl isobutyl ketone, 22 pg/i of xylene, 5 pgI. of ethyl benzene
and 0.5 pg/i of toluene present. At Gulf Stream Utility Co., 7 pg/2. of
toluene were detected in finished water.
Low levels (1-2 pgI2) of cis-1,2-dichloroethene were detected in raw
and/or finished water in seven systems [ Table 5]. At the Broward County
Utilities District 2A (North District) system, cis was present in raw water
but not finished water after aeration. The low level observed was an
improvement over both raw and finished waters in 1981 and 1982 [ Table 4]. ‘
At the city of Hallandale, the low levels of cis-1,2-dichloroethene in both
raw and finished water in 1984 were a major improvement over 1981 and 1982
when high levels of cis-1,2—dichloroethene and trichloroethylene were detec-
ted [ Table 4].19 One contaminated well has been shut down. At the city of
Hollywood, the low cis-1,2-dichloroethene level in finished water was an
improvement over 1981 and 1982 levels [ Table 4].19 No earlier data were
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IV-59
available for comparison for the city of Miramar (raw water), city of
Plantation (raw and finished waters) and Seminole Industries (finished water)
[ Table 51. Finished water after aeration contained no detectable cis-1,2-
dichloroethene at Miramar.
Only three non-community supplies contained detectable levels of VOCs
other than THMs. Cis—1,2-dichloroethene was present at 2 gI2 in both the
Dairy Queen and Greenburg Warehouse #1 supplies [ Table 6 and Figure 17].
At Pompano Turnpike Plaza, a total of 6 pg/P of toluene, ethyl benzene and
xylene compounds were present, possibly from spills of gasoline or petroleum
products.
Palm Beach County
In Palm Beach County prior to the 1984 EPA study, data on VOC contami-
nation of public water supplies were available for only five systems that
were sampled by the Ground Water Supply Survey in 1981 and 1982 [ Table 4]19.
Significant contamination was present at two systems. For non-community
supplies, data were available for only the contaminated Pratt-Whitney system.
As in the case of Broward County, these data were inadequate to define the
scope of VOC contamination in the more than 400 public supplies.
In March-May 1984, EPA sampled 72 community and 45 non-community sup-
plies for VOC analyses. This represented essentially all community supplies
in Palm Beach County with their own wellfields and about 15% of non-community
supplies. The results of this study are presented in the Palm Beach County
sections of Tables 5 and 6. The locations of supplies sampled are shown in
Figures 14, 15, 18 and 19.
The 1984 study detected VOC contamination (other than THMs) at 12 com-
munity and six non-community supplies. At Riviera Beach and the seacoast
Utilities Richard Road system, finished water exceeded Florida MCLs. Study
screening criteria were exceeded at Juno Beach Mobile Court, Loxahatchee
Road Prison, Palm Beach County ECR #2, and the Seacoast Utilities Hood Road
system. For non-community supplies, Florida MCLs (applicable only to com-
munity supplies) were exceeded at the Lake Worth Raquet Club, Frat House
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IV-60
Restaurant and Sunshine Preschool and in raw water at Pratt—Whitney. These
supplies are discussed in more detail below.
Twenty-two community supplies [ Table 5] and five non-community supplies
[ Table 6] had total THM levels exceeding the 100 pg/. limit applicable to
supplies serving more than 10,000 persons. Four of the supplies (Century
Village, Palm Beach County ECR #2 and ECR #3, and Riviera Beach) serve more
than 10,000 persons.
The city of Riviera Beach north of West Palm Beach supplies water to
about 38,000 persons. Finished water in 1981 had low VOC levels, but addi-
tional sampling in 1982 detected 4 pg/. of vinyl chloride in the finished
water along with elevated levels of cis-1,2-dichloroethene and trichloro-
ethylene [ Table 4].19 The contamination was traced to well #11 that had
very high (270 pg/i) vinyl chloride and 28 jgh of trichioroethylene. This
contamination was confirmed by resampling of well #11 in early 1983, and
the well was removed from service. The 1984 EPA sampling indicated that
both vinyl chloride and cis-1,2-dichloroethene were below detection limits
in both raw and finished water, but trichloroethylene was present at 10
pg/2 in raw water and 3 pg/i (after aeration) in finished water. These ICE
levels exceed Florida MCLs. If well #11 is still shut down, these data
indicate the presence of additional contamination in the Riviera Beach well-
field. Additional sampling of individual wells is needed to identify the
source of contamination. Industrial facilities are in the vicinity of the
wellfield. Steps should be taken to reduce ICE levels in finished water.
Seacoast Utilities operates three water supplies in Palm Beach Gardens
north of Riviera Beach serving about 60,000 persons. Although no VOC con-
tamination wa I in Richard Road finished water in 1981, sampling in
1982 and 1983 detected increasing levels of TCE in finished water which was
traced to high (119 pg/2 ) levels in well #11 [ Table 4].19 22 Aeration at
the plant was removing about half of the ICE, but finished water exceeded
the Florida MCL. The 1984 EPA sampling found significantly different VOC
contamination than the 1982-83 data. No ICE was detected, but vinyl chlo-
ride was present at 2 in finished water and 17 pg/2. in raw water.
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IV- 61
Similar levels of cis-l,2-dichloroethene were present. The vinyl chloride
exdeeds the Florida MCL, and the cis-1,2-dichloroethene exceeds the screen-
ing criterion in raw water. Aeration in the treatment plant was removing
80-90% of the VOCs. The observed shift in contamination suggests that TCE
may have degraded to vinyl chloride and cis-l,2-dichloroethene. Sampling
of wells is needed to identify the source of contamination to facilitate
reducing vinyl chloride levels in finished water. One of two weilfields
supplying the Richard Road treatment plant is located in an industrial park.
VOC contamination was also detected in the other two Seacoast Utilities
water supplies. Ethylene dichloride was present in excess of the screening
criterion of 0.6 pg/. in finished water (2 ig/2) at the Hood Road treatment
plant [ Table 5]. At the Lilac Street system, raw water contained 0.7 pg/i
each of trichloroethylene and tetrachioroethylene. Aeration removed VOCs
in finished water to below detection limits.
Ethylene dichioride (2 pg/i) was detected in excess of the screening
criterion in finished water at Juno Beach Mobile Court and in both raw and
finished water at Loxahatchee Road Prison [ Table 5]. Cis-1,2-dichloroethene
was also present at 2 ig/ in raw water at the prison. At Palm Beach County
ECR #2, cis-1,2-dichloroethene was present at 6 pg/. in raw water and 0.5
pg/i in finished water after aeration. Although ethylene dichioride exceeded
screening criteria in these cases, finished water met Florida MCLs.
Five non-community supplies had detectable levels of VOCs other than
THMs [ Table 6]. Finished water at three supplies exceeded Florida MCLs
applicable to community supplies only. At the Frat House Restaurant, both
cis-1,2-dichloroethene and ethylene dichloride were detected at 10 pg/2
each. The EDC exceeds the Florida MCL and the cis exceeds the screening
criterion. Good Samaritan Hospital finished water contained 1 pg/9 of EDC.
At Lake Worth Raquet Club, vinyl chloride was detected at 1 pg/P.., the Florida
MCL. Raw water at Pratt-Whitney was the most contaminated of any public
water supply in Palm Beach County sampled during the 1984 study. Contamina-
tion included 140 pg/2 of chloroethane, 70 pg/i of 1,1-dichioroethane,
20 pg/i of cis-1,2-dichloroethene, 10 pg/i of 1,1,1-trichldroethane, 8 pg/2
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IV-62
of vinyl chloride and 2 Jg/ of chlorobenzene. Due to multi-stage aeration
water treatment, finished water contained no detectable amounts of these
contaminants. At Sunshine Preschool, 4 pg/i of [ DC was detected in finished
water, exceeding the Florida MCL.
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v-i
V. SOURCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION
Environmental contamination in the study area is contributed by a variety
of man-made sources. Of particular interest to this study are sources of
volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that have been detected at significant
levels in the groundwater. Industrial manufacturing plants are believed to
be the most important sources of VOCs. Wastewater discharges, spills and
leaks of raw materials and products and hazardous waste management and dis-
posal are important processes by which VOCs are released to the environment
by industrial facilities. Hazardous waste disposal sites, solid waste land-
fills and dumps, municipal wastewater treatment plants and certain types of
commercial facilities are also potential sources of VOCs.
These types of sources of contamination are point sources. Non-point
sources of interest in the study area include unsewered areas served by
septic tanks, surface runoff (urban and industrial) and agricultural
actitivies.
Vinyl chloride has been frequently detected in groundwater at signfi-
cant levels. There are no known users or producers of vinyl chloride mon-
omer in the study area. There are thus no known direct sources of vinyl
chloride contamination. Research at Florida International University sug-
gests that the vinyl chloride may be a biodegradation product of trichloro-
ethylene (TCE) and/or tetrachloroethylene (perchioroethylene or PCE) or
other chlorinated solvents. 5 ’ This hypothesis has proven to be somewhat
controversial because other research has indicated that biodegradation of
TCE and PCE did not produce vinyl chloride. 52 Vinyl chloride has been de-
tected at at least four other locations outside Florida where TCE contami-
nation of groundwater occurred, but vinyl chloride was not initially present.
These were in Long Island, New York, 53 eastern Pennsylvania 54 and Califor-
nia. 54 In all four cases, a contributing factor appeared to be bacterial
contamination from septic tank sludges or other biological sludges. In
south Florida, the muck soils may provide suitable bacteria for vinyl chlo-
ride production.
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V- 2
For lack of a better answer to the sources of vinyl chloride in south
Florida groundwater, the ICE biodegradation hypotheses was used in this
study to identify potential sources of VOCs. Thus, sources of TCE, PCE and
other chlorinated solvents were identified in an attempt to define sources
of vinyl chloride.
POINT SOURCES
Industrial
Industrial facilities in the study area are predominantly small to
medium size light manufacturing plants. This is in contrast to many indus-
trialized areas of the country where a few large, heavy manufacturing plants
dominate the area and are responsible for most of the environmental
contamination.
The 1982 Directory of Florida Industries indicates that there are more
than 2200 manufacturing plants in the study area. 55 Dade County, with 1242
plants employing about 137,000 persons, is the top-ranked county in Florida
both in number of plants and employees. Broward County has 630 plants and
about 39,000 employees. This ranks third in number of plants and fourth in
number of employees. Paint Beach County, with 365 plants and 34,000 employ-
ees, ranks seventh and fifth, respectively. Collectively, the three coun-
ties comprise the largest industrial center in Florida.
Important industrial categories include apparel, chemicals, electrical
and electronic components, fabricated metal, food, furniture, machinery,
miscellaneous plastics and printing and publishing. With respect to poten-
tial sources of VOCs, the chemicals, electrical and electronic components,
fabricated metal and machinery categories are of the most interest.
Industrial facilities release pollutants to the environment through
several pathways. Process wastewaters contain a variety of contaminants
that may include VOCs. In the study area, some wastewaters are discharged
directly into the ground through unlined surface impoundments, dry wells,
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V- 3
seepage pits and leach fields. These discharges are of the most concern
because of their potential for introducing pollutants directly into the
groundwater. Direct discharges to groundwater were more common in the past
but are now being phased out as municipal sewers become available. Past
discharges may be an important source of groundwater contamination.
Wastewater may also be discharged to surface waters. These discharges
were a problem in the past, especially in the Miami International Airport
area 9 , but now have practically been eliminated. Pollution of surface waters
from such discharges was an indirect source of groundwater contamination
due to the seasonal recharge of groundwater aquifers by canal infiltration.
Most industrial process wastewaters are discharged to municipal sewers
for treatment and disposal. Most of this treated effluent is discharged
to the ocean or is injected into the Floridan aquifer and is thus isolated
from groundwater sources of drinking water. Some of the smaller municipal
wastewater treatment plants still discharge to inland surface waters or to
groundwater through seepage pits or lagoons. Although municipal wastewater
treatment plants achieve significant removals of most VOCs, there is some
potential for groundwater contamination by such municipal wastewater
discharges.
Exfiltration of wastewater from municipal sewers carrying industrial
wastewaters is another potential source of groundwater contamination. Stud-
ies to date have considered this potential source but have apparently been
unable to define the significance of exfiltration.
Various types of industries use VOCs and other chemicals as raw mate-
rials, solvents, lubricants, etc. in their processes. The storage and hand-
ling of these materials and their ultimate disposal when contaminated or
spent are all potential sources of groundwater contamination. Spills and
leaks of the virgin or used materials may contaminate groundwater directly
by seeping into the ground or indirectly by contaminating surface runoff
that is discharged to either the ground or surface waters. Leaks of sol-
vents from underground storage tanks have been implicated s major sources
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V-4
of groundwater contamination in other parts of the country, especially in
areas where concentration of electronics plants are found. This has not
yet been identified as a major problem in the study area.
Most of the VOCs used by area industries are considered hazardous wastes
when spent. Storage and handling of these wastes have caused contamination
of surface and groundwaters in the past, both at the industrial facilities
and at offsite hazardous waste management facilities.
Volatile organic chemicals are also emitted to the air by a variety of
industrial types. Sources include degreasing operations, application of
surface coatings, etc. There is some potential for rainout of these emis-
sions to contribute to surface and groundwater contamination, but no data
were available to evaluate this pathway. Contributions, if any, from this
pathway must be minor because VOC contamination of groundwater tends to be
either not present at low detection limits or present at significant levels.
This suggests the sources of contamination are primarily multiple point
sources and not low-level areawide sources that would occur with rainout of
emissions.
Many of the 2200+ industrial facilities in the study area are not con-
sidered to be potential sources of VOCs because they do not use or handle
these chemicals. Other industrial facilities may use very small amounts of
VOCs but are not considered significant potential sources of contamination
because they do not produce process wastewaters or hazardous wastes. The
approximate universe of potential industrial sources was estimated in two
ways. The number of facilities in industrial categories most likely to use
or handle VOCs was estimated from the industrial directory. 55 Inventories
of facilities with wastewater discharge permits or that have notified EPA
of hazardous waste management activities were reviewed to also estimate the
number of potential sources of contamination.
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V- 5
The approximate number of plants in each of the four types of industrial
activity most likely to be sources of VOC contamination are listed by county
below:
Industrial County
Category Total Broward Dade Palm Beach
Chemicals
110
24
70
16
Electrical/Electronic
133
50
59
24
Fabricated Metal
338
104
172
62
Machinery
208
102
97
9
TOTALS
789
280
398
111
There are no large chemical manufacturing plants in the study area.
The 110 plants listed in the industrial directory were generally relatively
small (fewer than 100 employees) and often produced cleaning chemicals,
paints, inks, adhesives, cosmetics, pharmaceutical preparations, insecti-
cides, and similar products. Some handled or produced degreasers and other
solvents and would be of the most concern with respect to potential sources
of VOC contamination.
The 133 electrical and electronic components plants varied widely in
size from fewer than 10 employees to more than 1000. About 50 of the plants
produced some form of electronic components including crystals, microcir-
cuits, printed circuit boards and electronic assemblies. These electronics
plants make extensive use of chlorinated solvents as degreasers and for
other process purposes such as developers and cleaners. The electrical
products plants produce such items as lamps, switches, transformers and a
variety of assemblies. Use of chlorinated solvents as degreasers is common
in this industrial category. Electroplating type operations are also fre-
quently associated with electrical and electronic products manufacturing.
Fabricated metal facilities were numerous (338) and ranged in size
from fewer than 5 employees to several hundred. Most shops were small.
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V- 6
Fabricated sheet metal such as air conditioning ducts and a variety of
extruded aluminum products such as windows and doors were common products
in this industry. Some of these plants would be expected to use degreasers.
This industrial category also includes the electroplating job shops that do
a wide variety of electroplating and other metal finishing operations.
These shops are sources of heavy metals and often of spent solvents.
The 208 machinery manufacturers include machine shops that do a lot of
tool and die work and other shops that produce a variety of machinery rang-
ing from small tools to large manufacturing equipment. Some of these facil-
ities use degreasers, especially shops that recondition used equipment.
It was beyond the scope of this study to relate potential sources of
contamination to known cases of welifield contamination. The reader is
referred to various previous studies for more detailed information in this
regard. Industrial facilities in the cone of influence of the llialeah-
Preston weilfields have been identified by several EPA and DERM stu-
dies. 9 23 25 Industrial facilities and other sources of pollution
within the cones of influence of other welifields in Dade County were iden-
tified by a 1982 DERM report. 23 Broward County industries that discharged
pollutants of concern to municipal sewers, had direct discharges to ground-
water, or that generated hazardous wastes or industrial sludges were iden-
tified in an October 1981 BECQCB report. 56 Industrial facilities in a
portion of Palm Beach County were identified by an industrial waste pretreat-
ment study. 27 Facilities handling hazardous materials in the vicinity of
Seacoast Utilities welifields in the Lake Park area of Palm Beach County
were identified in another study. 22 Several of these studies involved actual
site visits to a number of industrial facilities. A variety of inadequate
handling, storage, use and disposal practices were observed with a frequency
of occurrence and severity of contamination potential that suggests that
the numerous small industrial facilities handling VOCs may collectively
represent a major source of groundwater contamination.
There are very few industrial wastewater discharges to surface waters
in the study area. EPA ’s Permit Compliance System (PCS),a computerized
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V-7
data base that maintains a list of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permits, listed only 32 industrial permits in the study area. 57
This is unusually low for an area of this size and level of industrial devel-
opment and reflects the extent to which surface discharges have been diverted
to municipal sewer systems or to ground disposal. Of the 32, eight are for
stormwater runoff from bulk petroleum storage facilities, and six are for
cooling water discharges at thermal electric generating plants. The other
18 represent a variety of miscellaneous industries and generally represent
relatively small noncontact cooling water discharges or other wastewaters
containing low levels of pollutants. Known industrial discharges to surface
waters appear to represent a low potential for groundwater contamination.
State permits are issued by DER to industrial wastewater discharges to
both surface and groundwaters. Facilities that have NPDES permits also
receive a state industrial waste permit. A DER inventory of industrial
waste permits indicates there were 35 active permits in Broward County, 51
in Dade County and 48 in Palm Beach County, making a total of 134.58 This
suggests that there were about 102 discharges to the ground in the study
area. Review of permit file data indicated that discharge volumes ranged
from <500 gpd to about 400,000 gpd. 22 Disposal methods included unlined
evaporation/percolation ponds, seepage pits, leach fields and dry wells.
Some of the industrial discharges to groundwater have a low potential
of chemical contamination due to wastewater type or characteristics and the
nature of the industrial facility. Examples of these are noncontact cooling
water from an industrial facility with no process wastewaters or wastewaters
from food manufacturers or concrete mixing plants.
Review of DER permit files indicated that about 25 of the discharges
to groundwater have the potential to be significant sources of VOC contami-
nation. Many of the discharges also contain heavy metals. There have been
several instances of groundwater contamination with heavy metals in the
study area related to such industrial discharges.
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V-8
The industrial discharges of interest were primarily from electronic
component manufacturers, metal finishing plants (including electroplaters)
and chemical plants. The electronic component industrial discharges were of
particular concern. In general, these facilities have some type of process
that is similar in nature to an electroplating operation and produces similar
wastewater characteristics. Heavy metals and possibly cyanides are usually
present in the discharges. The discharge permits contain limits on these
pollutants based on DER and DERM or BCEQCB effluent limits. There are no
effluent or discharge limits on VOCs.
Permit file data indicate that most electronic component manufacturers
in the study area use one or more degreasers or other chlorinated solvents
in their process. 22 Trichioroethylene, tetrachioroethylene and/or 1,1,
1-trichioroethane are often used. Spent solvents are usually accumulated
and stored in tanks or drums and then shipped offsite for recycling or for
disposal as a hazardous waste. However, plant visits have shown that stor-
age and handling of both virgin and spent solvents is often inadequate,
resulting in spills, leaks and high potential for groundwater contamination.
Sampling of treated and untreated process wastewaters from the elec-
tronic components industry at various locations around the country by EPA’s
Effluent Guidelines Division has shown that the chlorinated solvents are
frequently present in these wastewaters at significant levels. 59 Treatment
provided is usually for cyanide destruction and heavy metals removal which
would have little effect on solvent concentrations. Flow weighted mean and
maximum concentrations for the most significant toxic organic chemical con-
stituents of the semiconductor wastes sampled are shown below:
Maximum Flow Weighted
Concentration Mean Concentration
Chemical (mgR) (mgI )
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene
27
0.41
1,1,1-trichioroethane
8
1.48
1,2-dichlorobenzene
186
0.80
methylene chloride
2
0.44
phenol
4
0.32
tetrachioroethylene
0.8
0.58
trichioroethylene
4
0.28
total toxic organics
245
3.36
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v- 9
These data indicated that electronic component plants could be previously
unidentified, significant sources of groundwater contamination with VOCs.
The Effluent Guidelines Division study found that, with good solvent manage-
ment practices, total toxic organic concentrations of less than 1 mg/i could
be consistently achieved. If solvent management was poor, much higher levels
of toxic organics were discharged.
Most of the electronic component discharges in the study area are rela-
tively small. A 10,000 gpd discharge could still produce significant ground-
water contamination if inadequate solvent handling occurred or if spent
solvents were periodically deliberately discharged. A 10,000 gpd discharge
contaminated to the 10 mgR level would discharge a solvent load adequate
to contaminate a 10 mgd water supply to a concentration of 10 pgIQ., well
above the drinking water MCLs. Put another way, the same small contaminated
discharge would release about 304 lb/year of solvents to the aquifer. This
could increase VOC levels in a square mile area of the aquifer by about
2 jgI2, assuming uniform mixing, an aquifer saturated thickness of 100 feet
and a storage coefficient of 0.2.
Because no data were available on VOC concentrations in industrial
discharges or receiving groundwaters at electronic component or metal fin-
ishing plants in the study area, EPA conducted a limited sampling study in
April 1984. Wastewater effluents and receiving groundwaters were sampled
at three electronic component manufacturers and a metal finishing plant.
Groundwater was sampled at two electronic component plants that previously
had discharged wastewaters to groundwater.
VOCs were present in wastewaters and/or monitoring wells at all six
facilities [ Table 7]. The highest levels of VOC contamination in both waste-
water and monitoring wells were detected at the Davco Printed Circuits plant
in Fort Lauderdale near the International Airport. Treated wastewater from
this plant was found to have high levels of methylene chloride and tetrachlo-
roethene, both used as process chemicals [ Table 7]. About 150,000 gpd of
wastewaters are discharged to a leach field. High levels of tetrachioroeth-
ene and trichloroethene were detected in monitoring wells. Observed VOC
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V- 10
Table 7
RESULTS OF VOC SAMPLING AT SELECTED INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES
Wastewater
Monitoring
Wells
Facility Name Compound (pgR)
(pgR)
Davco Printed Circuits Methylene chloride 1600 NDa
Tetrachioroethene 600 ND-830
Trans-l,2-dichloroethene ND ND-6 1
Trichloroethene ND 2-1400
1,1-dichioroethane ND 8-76
Chloroform 26 ND—3
l,1,1-trichloroethane 9 N088
Acetone ND ND-60
Motorola 1,1,2-trichiorotri fluoro- b
ethane NS 160-620
l,2-dichloro-i,l,2-tri-
fluoroethane NS ND<100
i,1-dichloroethene NS ND-li
Tetrahydrofuran NS ND-510
Chloroform NS N0-4
Graphic Products Acetone NS 30—70
Trichloroethene NS ND-5
Trans-1,2-dichloroethene NS 2-13
Chloroform NS ND-l
2-pentanone NS ND-25 c
1-butanol NS ND-PNQ
E. B. Stimpson Co. Acetone 390 ND
Chloroform 120 ND
Dichiorobromomethane 8 NO
Chiorodibromomethane 2 ND
Trichloroethene 2 ND
1,l-dichloroethane ND ND—i
Trans-i,2-dichloroethene ND ND-i
Trans Circuits Acetone 60 NO
1,l,1-trichloroethane 12 ND
Chloroform 7 ND-2
Benzene 4 ND
Tetrachloroethene 1 NO-i
1-butanol PNQ NO
2-nor-butoxy ethanol <100 ND
RCA l,1,i-trichloroethane 8 ND
Chloroform 1 d NO
Fluorotrimethyl silane <100 ND
a - Not detected
b - Not sampled
c - Present but not quantified
d - Tentative identification
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v_il
levels were in excess of Broward County effluent limitations and groundwater
criteria and the new Florida MCLs that take effect in June 1985.
The large Motorola electonics components and communications equipment
plant in Plantation discharged industrial wastewater to a percolation pond
until 1980, when the discharge was connected to the municipal sewer system.
Due to heavy metal contamination at the pond site, the pond contents and
underlying soils were excavated and disposed of out of state in 1981. Sub-
sequent groundwater sampling detected some heavy metal and cyanide contami-
nation in groundwater under the site. EPA sampled four monitoring wells
ranging in depth from 15 to 35 feet. Freon 113, a chlorinated fluorocarbon
degreasing solvent (1,1,2-trichlorotrifluroethane), was detected at levels
ranging from 160 to 620 pg/ . [ Table 7]. A second fluorocarbon was detected
in two wells. These fluorocarbons are process chemicals. Tetrahydrofuran
was detected in two wells, possibly from PVC cement used in well construc-
tion. Vinylidene chloride (1,1-dichioroethene) and chloroform were also
detected. The observed levels of VOC contamination exceed Broward County
groundwater criteria.
Graphic Products is a small printed circuit board manufacturer adjacent
to Executive Airport in Fort Lauderdale. Until late 1983, about 120,000
gpd of industrial wastewater was discharged to a drain field. This discharge
is now connected to municipal sewers. Two monitoring wells about 20 feet
deep were sampled. Acetone was the VOC present in the highest concentration
[ Table 7]. Trichioroethene exceeded the new Florida MCLs. VOC concentra-
tions exceeded the Broward County groundwater criteria.
The E. B. Stimpson Company in southwest Pompano Beach northeast of
Executive Airport manufactures various metal fasteners. About 150,000 gpd
of industrial wastewaters was discharged to two seepage ponds. There were
no detectable VOCs in two of the three monitoring wells, and the third had
only low levels of i,1-dichloroethane and trans-i,2-dichloroethane. Waste-
water effluent contained elevated levels of acetone and trihalomethanes and
2 pg/i of trichloroethene. The trihalomethanes (primarily chloroform) may
have originated in the public water supply.
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V- 12
Trans Circuits is a printed circuit board manufacturer in Lake Park in
Palm Beach County. About 144,000 gpd of treated wastewater is discharged
to a percolation pond. The ponded wastewater contained acetone, 1,1,1-tn-
chioroethane and low levels of other VOCs [ Table 7]. Low levels of VOCs
were detected in two of three wells sampled. These data are not considered
representative of actual groundwater quality, however, due to difficulties
in proper purging and sampling of the wells.
RCA manufactures semiconductors at a plant in Palm Beach Garden. About
400,000 gpd of wastewater is discharged to a 1.5-acre lagoon. No VOCs were
detected in the three wells sampled--a deep main plant supply well, a shal-
low ornamental pond supply well and a 25-ft deep monitoring well at the
lagoon. Wastewater effluent contained 8 pg/i of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (a
process chemical), 1 .ig/2 of chloroform and less than 100 pg/. of a compound
tentatively identified as fluorotrimethyl silane, probably a process chemical.
The detection of high levels of VOCs in groundwater at two of six indus-
trial wastewater disposal sites sampled indicates that such sites (both
past and present) may be significant sources of VOC contamination of ground-
water when VOCs are used or handled at the facility. Sampling of groundwater
at all such sites is needed to verify this. It is also clear that all active
discharges to groundwater from facilities using or handling VOCs should
have effluent limitations on appropriate VOCs in their discharge permits
and should be required to regularly monitor effluents and groundwater for
these VOCs.
Industrial and commercial facilities generating or handling hazardous
wastes are potential sources of VOC contamination of groundwater. In 1980,
all facilities that generated, transported or treated, stored or disposed
of solid wastes listed as hazardous wastes by EPA (40 CFR Part 261) were
required to notify EPA of their activity. There were 42 generators, 21
transporters and 53 treatment, storage or disposal (ISO) facilities in the
study area distributed among the three counties as shown below:
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V- 13
County Generators Transporters TSD Facilities
Broward
11
5
15
Dade
22
11
26
Palm
Beach
9
5
12
TOTAL
42
21
53
While some of these notifiers generate or handle hazardous wastes that
are corrosive, a substantial number generate or handle spent solvents, indi-
cating they are potential sources of VOC contamination. Site inspections
have been made at most generators and TSD facilities by DER staff. Many of
the facilities were found to be small-quantity generators, had stopped the
activity requiring notification, or were storing hazardous wastes for less
than 90 days. These facilities were often exempt from RCRA permit require-
ments but, nevertheless, remained potential sources of VOC contamination.
There are no permitted hazardous waste disposal facilities in the study
area. Most hazardous wastes are either recycled or shipped out of state
for disposal, often to Emelle, Alabama. En the past, some hazardous wastes
were disposed of onsite at industrial facilities or at municipal dumps or
landfills, resulting in pollution problems. Some of the local recycling
activities also caused pollution problems. These problems are discussed in
the following section.
Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites
Hazardous wastes, primarily heavy metals and chlorinated solvents,
have been inadequately disposed of at at least 50 sites in the study area. 36
These sites are of three types: municipal dumps or landfills, contaminated
manufacturing plant sites and contaminated sites where industrial wastewaters
were discharged to the ground.
Groundwater contamination is believed to be present at most of the
sites and has been documented at about half of the sites. This contamina-
tion was limited to the plant site in most cases. In at least two cases,
contamination of major public water supply weilfields has occurred. Eight
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V- 14
of the sites are considered major environmental problems and have been placed
on the National Priorities List for remedial action under “Superfund’. 6 °
The status of remedial actions at the 50 sites ranges from complete
removal of site contamination to no action at all. A substantial amount of
investigative work is under way as discussed below.
There have been 27 sites identified in Dade County. 36 About half of
these sites are in the Medley-l-Iialeah-International Airport region of north-
west Miami that surrounds the major public water supply weilfields serving
the Hialeah and Preston water treatment plants [ Figure 10]. This area in-
cludes extensive industrial parks, part of which are not on municipal sewers.
There are also sizeable residential areas on private wells. Groundwater in
this area was sampled by the large-scale Biscayne Aquifer Superfund study.
The study found widespread groundwater contamination but did not define
specific sources of the contamination.
The other half of the sites in Dade County are at scattered locations
and have not been specifically connected with public wellfield contamination.
Of the 27 sites in the county, 19 are at industrial facilities, five are
municipal landfills and three are federal facilities.
There are six Superfund sites in Dade County; four are in the Hialeah—
Preston weilfield vicinity [ Figure 10]. The largest site is the 58th Street
Landfill, a municipal landfill covering an area of about 600 acres west of
Miami Springs. The landfill was operated by Dade County for about 30 years,
beginning in 1952. A wide variety of municipal and industrial solid wastes,
garbage, trash, grease trap pumpouts, etc. were landfilled. Disposal rates
ranged between 100,000 and 1,000,000 tons per year. Studies by USGS and
EPA about 1975 detected contaminated groundwater in a plume extending about
a half mile east of the site toward Medley wellfied.’ 2 15 Various methods
of abating this contamination have been discussed, including intercepting
leachate from the landfill and injecting it into the Floridan Aquifer
through deep wells.
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The Biscayne Aquifer Superfund study included an evaluation of
groundwater contamination in the landfill vicinity but did not define a
specific plume of contamination. 20 The site is inactive, except for disposal
of construction debris and water treatment plant lime sludge. A closure
plan has been prepared and is undergoing regulatory agency review.
The Miami Drum Superfund site is near the east edge of the Medley well-
field [ Figure 10]. The facility was a steel drum recycling operation that
was shut down because of pollution problems in June 1981, after 15 years of
operation. Drums recycled had previously held a wide variety of materials
including industrial solvents, acids and heavy metals. 6 ’ The drums were
washed out with a caustic cleaning solution, and the spent solution along
with chemical residues from the drums were discharged to seepage pits on-
site. This resulted in contamination of soil and near-surface groundwater
with phenols, heavy metals and volatile organic chemicals. En late 1981
and early 1982, a contractor hired by Dade County removed contaminated soil,
up to depths of 8 ft in some places, from the site and transported it out
of state for disposal as hazardous waste. Contaminated groundwater in the
excavation was treated and returned to the ground. Superfund has since
reimbursed Dade County for most of the $1.6 million cleanup cost.
The Medley welifield was permanently shut down in 1982 because of con-
tamination after less than 2 years of operation. The possible contribution
of the nearby Miami Drum site was apparently never defined. Recent moni-
toring at the Miami Drum site indicates that contamination of the under-
lying groundwater is relatively low for the area.
Pepper’s Steel and Alloys in Medley is a recently discovered site.
Among other activities, the facility recycled scrap steel from old power
transformers. Unfortunately, waste oil from the transformers containing
PCBs was simply dumped on the ground surface and percolated into the ground.
Surface contamination and PCB items were removed in 1983 soon after the
site was discovered by a combination of voluntary responsible party actions
and regulatory agency response. Further site cleanup is anticipated.
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The fourth Superfund site in the Hialeah-Preston weilfields vicinity
is the Varsol spill at the Miami International Airport. A spill of about
1.5 millions gallons of petroleum-based cleaning solvent was discovered in
1970. Other spills of fuels and hydrocarbons have occurred periodically at
the airport. These materials tend to float on the water table. Spilled
materials have been partially recovered and recovery operations are
conti nui ng.
The other two Superfund sites in Dade County are Gold Coast Oil and
Munisport. Gold Coast Oil recycled waste chemicals and solvents and also
sold a variety of chemicals. Contamination problems at the site west of
Coral Gables were discovered in 1980. The facility subsequently closed.
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, the site owner, conducted a voluntary cleanup
of stored wastes and surface soil contamination at a cost of about $200,000.
Regulatory agencies are assisting Seaboard and other responsible parties in
a remedial investigation to define final cleanup needs. About 60 respons-
ible parties, primarily waste generators, have been identified. The Gold
Coast site is remote from any major public water supply weilfields.
The Munisport site covers nearly 300 acres of the old Graves Tract on
Biscayne Bay on the east side of North Miami. 24 Owned by the City of North
Miami, the site was operated as a permitted sanitary landfill until 1980 by
Munisport, Inc. The site is believed to have operated as a dump in the
1950s. In addition to municipal trash and garbage, the site is known to
have received some industrial chemicals. Groundwater contamination is pre-
sent under and downgradient of the site. The landfill is east of the 1000
ppm isochlor line and about 2 miles from the nearest public water supply
well f i e 1 d.
There have been 16 hazardous waste disposal sites identified in Broward
County, including two Superfund sites on the National Priorities List. Half
of the sites are at industrial facilities, and the others are landfills or
dumps. Nine of the sites are in Fort Lauderdale and four in Pompano Beach.
One Superfund site is at Hollingsworth Solderless Tern inal Company, an
electrical connector manufacturer in Fort Lauderdale on the east edge of Exec-
utive Airport. The facility improperly disposed of various industrial wastes,
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including heavy metals and spent degreasing solvents (trichloroethylene), to
the ground surface, septic tank leach fields and a 100-ft deep injection
well previously used as a cooling water disposal well. 22 Discovery of this
source of contamination in 1981 led to sampling of public water supply wells
in the city of Fort Lauderdale’s Executive welifield. High levels of vola-
tile organic chemical contamination were found in the wells as discussed in
Section IV. Hollingsworth appears to have been a major contributor to this
contamination, although it is likely that there are other sources of contam-
ination in the surrounding industrial area. Hollingsworth recovered some
contaminated groundwater from the well in 1981 and capped the well. 22 All
disposal at this site was discontinued in 1981. A remedial investigation
in 1982 found additional contamination near the leach fields. 2 ’ Trichioro-
ethylene as high as 4,200 pgI. and vinyl chloride as high as 700 pg/i were
detected at the site by additional remedial investigations in 1983. Although
VOC contamination has decreased at the site in most monitoring wells, high
levels are still present through much of the aquifer depth at the south
edge of the site, and vinyl chloride levels have increased. A feasibility
study has been completed and is under review by regulatory agencies. Simple
groundwater modelling indicates that the Hollingsworth disposal activities
could have contributed substantially to contamination observed in the Exec-
utive wellfield. There appears to be a need to expedite remedial actions
at the F-lollingsworth site to arrest the continued migration of this contam-
ination into the Executive welifield. Consideration should be given to
recovery and treatment or disposal of the most contaminated groundwater.
No monitoring wells are available to evaluate the extent of the southern
edge of the most contaminated groundwater, and additional monitoring may be
needed in this regard.
The second Superfund site is the Davie Landfill, also known as the
Broward County Solid Waste Disposal Facility. Four types of disposal activ-
ities were conducted at this 150-acre site owned and operated by Broward
County.’ 4 62 Municipal solid waste was landfilled in lined trenches. Trash
was landfilled in a separate area. This landfill activity is one of only
two currently active sites in Broward County. (The other site is at Pompano
Beach.) A third activity which was discontinued in 1981 as the lagoon
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V- 18
disposal of waste sludges from wastewater treatment plants, septic tanks,
grease trap pumpouts and some industrial treatment plants. Incineration of
solid wastes at the site has also been discontinued.
Studies by USGS and BCEQCB in 1935, 1980 and 1981 indicated groundwater
contamination problems with the sludge lagoon.’ 4 62 This is the basis for
the Superfund designation. The landfill is several miles upgradient from
several public water supply wellfields.
Several of the sites in Broward County represent illegal discharges or
spills of hazardous materials or contamination at permitted wastewater dis-
posal sites. In several case, the contamination has been removed.
Only eight disposal sites have been identified in Palm Beach County,
and none are on the Superfund National Priorities List. Five of these are
municipal landfills, and the others are industrial facilities. At the large
Pratt-Whitney aircraft engine plant in north Palm Beach County, disposal of
industrial wastes in an onsite landfill and discharge of wastewaters to
unlined surface impoundments resulted in groundwater contamination. Private
wells supplying the facility were contaminated. The plant is remote from
major public water supply weilfields.
Solid Waste Disposal Sites
Municipal (domestic and commercial) solid waste, including garbage,
trash and vegetative debris, has been disposed of at numerous sites in the
study area. Three basic types of disposal have been used. Some wastes
were disposed on top the existing land surface and then covered with fill
materials in successive lifts. In other cases, trenches were excavated 10
to 15 feet into the ground, filled with solid waste and covered with the
excavated material. In low-lying areas, the trenches were excavated into
the water table, allowing direct contact between wastes and groundwater.
In the third type of disposal, fill material was excavated and sold, leaving
a manmade lake filled with surface or groundwater. Solid wastes were then
used to backfill the lake. This also placed wastes in direct contact with
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groundwater. New landfills must have impervious liners to prevent leachate
migration to the groundwater. Some landfills without liners are still
operati ng.
Municipal solid wastes do contain some hazardous/toxic substances con-
tributed in small amounts by numerous households and commercial facilities.
Examples are discarded pesticide containers and filters from dry cleaners.
It has been estimated that filters, typically disposed of in commercial
solid waste, from dry cleaners throughout the study area may contain as
much as 200 lb/day of tetrachloroethene. 38 It is probable that some indus-
trial hazardous wastes have been illegally or ignorantly disposed of in
solid waste landfills.
A DERM study completed in 1983 identified 49 former solid waste disposal
sites in Dade County. 24 Twenty of the sites were prioritized for site!
groundwater investigations because of pollution potential and proximity to
water supply wells. Most of the priority sites were near the Hialeah-Preston
welifields’ cone of influence or in northeast Dade County, both areas with
known water supply well contamination. A 1980 Broward County study identi-
fied seven former and four active solid waste disposal sites in that county. 63
Thirteen sludge disposal sites were also identified.
Commercial Facilities
In addition to industrial facilities, various types of commercial fa-
cilities use chemicals that pose a groundwater pollution potential. Auto-
motive service stations and various other types of maintenance and repair
facilities use degreasers and other solvents. Although the amounts used at
each facility are usually small, collectively the large number of such units
poses a significant pollution potential if the solvents are improperly han-
dled or disposed of.
Dry cleaners use large amounts of perchioroethylene (tetrachioroethyl-
ene). Many of these have stills for recycling spent solvents. Although
still bottoms are required to be disposed of as hazardous waste, improper
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disposal could cause pollution problems. This would be especially true if
the waste was placed in septic tanks.
There have been numerous cases of leaking underground gasoline storage
tanks at service stations. Although these hydrocarbons usually float on
the water table, they can be drawn into water supply wells, causing a fire
hazard as well as a contaminated water supply. Benzene, toluene and xylene
may also leach into the groundwater from such spills.
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
During the 1960s and early 1970s, proliferation of municipal wastewater
treatment plants in pace with rapid population growth resulted in the dis-
charge of large volumes of frequently inadequately treated wastewaters to
inland surface waters and to estuarine waters with adverse water quality
impacts. During the last decade, major regionalization of municipal waste-
water systems, coupled with improved levels of wastewater treatment, have
resulted in a substantial reduction in the number of treatment plants and
removal of large pollutant loads from surface waters.
Five basic methods of disposing of municipal effluents are used in the
study area. Most of the large regional treatment plants discharge effluents
to the Atlantic Ocean through long ocean outfalls. One regional plant in
south Dade County injects effluent into a deep well terminating in the salty
Floridan Aquifer, as does a Broward County plant. At least a third of the
plants still discharge to inland surface waters. These plants must meet
stringent effluent limitations and are gradually being phased out. Other
primarily small treatment plants discharge effluent to percolation ponds or
seepage pits for disposal to groundwater. These discharges are also being
phased out. A few plants use spray irrigation for effluent disposal.
There are about 35 NPDES pemits for publicly-owned treatment works
(POTWs) (usually the major mumicipal plants) and 25 permits for domestic
waste treatment plants for facilities such as apartments and mobile home
parks in the study area. 57 In Dade County, there are 11 POTWs (most with
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V-21
ocean outfalls) and only two domestic treatment plants. Regionalization is
the most complete in Dade County.
In Broward County, there are 16 POTWs and 13 domestic treatment plants
with NPDES permits. 57 A 1982 BCEQCB annual report indicated there were 68
POTWs in the county in 1982.62 Twenty-five discharged to surface waters
(inland and estuarine), and two were major regional plants with ocean out-
falls. There were 41 plants disposing of effluents to the ground including
three spray irrigation facilities and one deep well. Of the total wastewater
flow of 127 mgd, about 68 mgd was discharged to the ocean, 39 mgd to surface
waters, and 20 mgd to groundwater. Regionalization of treatment facilities
was expected to phase out 12 surface discharges and 21 ground discharges.
Of the remaining 20 groundwater discharges, about 10 mgd would be discharged
to the Biscayne aquifer and 5.4 mgd to the Floridan Aquifer.
There were eight POTWs and 10 domestic treatment plants in Palm Beach
County. Regionalization is not as far along yet in this county because
of a lower population density.
Treated municipal wastewaters typically contain low levels of volatile
organic chemicals unless there are significant industrial contributions.
Municipal systems serving primarily residential areas would appear not to
be significant sources of VOC contamination of groundwaters, especially
where the discharge is to surface waters where additional VOC removal and
dilution would occur prior to infiltration into the groundwater. On the
other hand, a municipal system receiving signficant industrial inputs and
discharging to the ground could be a significant source of contamination.
No effluent data were available to identify any problem sources.
NON-POINT SOURCES
Septic Tanks
There are substantial portions of the study area that are not currently
served by public sewer systems. The common form of wastewáter disposal in
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V-22
such areas is a septic tank and leach field. This allows wastewaters which
have received only minimal treatment to percolate directly into the
groundwater.
In residential areas, groundwater can become contaminated with high
levels of nitrates and pathogenic bacteria if the area] density of disposal
systems is too great. This can result in localized contamination of private
water supply systems where individual walls are used. Residential septic
tanks have occasionally contributed to contamination of public water supply
wells.
In some parts of the country, septic tank cleaners containing degreas-
ers to break up grease layers have been used, resulting in contamination of
groundwater with trichloroethylene or other solvents. This has not been
identified as a problem in the study area.
In unsewered industrial areas, the use of septic tanks poses a much
higher potential for groundwater contamination. Typically, a septic tank
at an industrial facility is approved by the regulatory agency for use for
domestic wastewaters only or for relatively uncontaminated wastewaters.
Changes in the types of operations at the facility, sloppy housekeeping or
even deliberate illegal practices may result in the discharge of unautho-
rized pollutants such as hazardous waste to the groundwater. These prob-
lems are difficult to detect and regulate. Regulatory agency files contained
numerous examples of this type of contamination.
Storm Runoff
Because the study area has high annual rainfall (about 60 in.), large
volumes of stormwater must be disposed of. In urban areas, this stormwater
contains a variety of pollutants that can impact the quality of both surface
and groundwater. In the past, direct discharges of contaminated urban run-
off to surface waters contributed to the pollution of drainage canals and
other surface waters. Nutrients (from lawn fertilizers), pesticides and
heavy metals were of concern.
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V- 23
Much of the stormwater has now been diverted from direct discharges to
surface waters. Runoff from building roofs, streets, parking areas and
roadways is often discharged to storm ponds, dry wells and seepage pits.
This results in the infiltration of this stormwater into the groundwater.
Research has demonstrated that most of the pollutants present in the storm-
water are attenuated within a few feet of travel in the aquifer, especially
where the surface layers are fine sands that act as filters. This is espe-
cially true of lead particulates from automobile exhausts and pesticides
from lawns and parks that are attached to soil particles. No data on vola-
tile organic chemicals in stormwater in the study area were found to evalu-
ate if the urban runoff could be a significant source of groundwater
contami nation.
Stormwater runoff at industrial plants can
ficant levels of VOCs if spills or leaks of raw
of if hazardous wastes are handled improperly.
add to groundwater contamination problems at an
quate disposal of industrial wastewaters.
be contaminated with signi-
materials or products occur
Thus, storrnwater runoff can
industrial site with made-
Agricultural
Production of crops, especially the intense truck farming practiced in
some of the study area, makes use of large volumes of fertilizer and pesti-
cides. Infiltration of rainfall on cropland can be a source of groundwater
contamination. In south Dade County, high nitrate levels in part of the
Biscayne Aquifer were attributed to application of fertilizers on cropland.
Pesticides (both herbicides and insecticides) have been detected at
low levels in groundwater at a few locations in the study area. They have
also frequently been detected in the bottom sediments of surface waters
including drainage canals and storm ponds.
Most pesticides appear to usually
not readily move into the groundwater.
ethylene dibromide (EDB) apparently do
be bound up on the sediments and do
Some types of pesticides such as
move through the aquifer and pose a
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V- 24
threat to groundwater quality where they are used. EDB has been detected
in groundwater in other areas of Florida but has not been detected in the
study area to date.
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VI. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL PROGRAMS
Environmental control programs at the Federal, State and local levels
are directly or indirectly involved in the protection of public drinking
water supplies. Regulatory programs at all three levels are designed to
ensure that public water supplies deliver to the consumer drinking water
that is safe and of acceptable quality. Because most drinking water is
obtained from groundwater, programs that regulate the quality of groundwater
are of interest. These include direct regulation of groundwater quality
and indirect regulation through controls on discharges of pollutants into
the ground. Regulation of surface water quality is also of interest because
groundwater systems are partially recharged by seepage of surface water.
Surface water quality is also regulated by controls on discharges of pol-
lutants to surface waters. Regulation of hazardous waste management and
disposal is of special interest because hazardous wastes are frequently the
source of serious groundwater contamination incidents. At the local level,
land use ordinances are being applied for protection of major public water
supply welifields. These environmental control programs are discussed below.
DRINKING WATER
The Federal drinking water program stems from the authority of the
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 USC 300 et g). EPA is required by the SOWA
to promulgate national drinking water regulations that specify water quality
limits that must be met in all public water supplies for the protection of
public health. The SWDA establishes the states as the primary enforcers
of the national regulations. Florida has assumed primacy for enforcement
of the SDWA with this responsiblity delegated to the Department of Environ-
mental Regulation. The DER central office in Tallahassee administers the
program, with the enforcement activities in the study area conducted by the
Southeast Florida district office in West Palm Beach. EPA overview of the
Florida program is maintained by the Water Management Division in Region IV,
Atlanta, Georgia.
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As required by the SOWA, EPA has promulgated interim primary and
secondary drinking water regulations that specify maximum contaminant levels
(MCLs) for various contaminants in drinking water. EPA is in the process
of making major additions and revisions to these regulations. In an advance
notice of proposed rulemaking in March 1982, EPA announced its intent to
propose MCLs for several volatile organic chemicals. 48 As previously dis-
cussed in more detail in Section IV, EPA is expected to propose recommended
MCLs for eight VOCs within the next few months. These RMCLs are not enforce-
able but specify health goals for drinking water supplies. These would be
the first national regulations on VOCs. EPA is expected to later propose
and promulgate enforceable MCLs for some VOCs.
In October 1983, EPA published another advance notice of proposed rule-
making, indicating its intent to propose additional revisions of the drink-
ing water regulations. 64 These would cover additional organic chemicals as
well as inorganic chemicals, microbiological contaminants, radionuclides,
and disinfection byproducts including trihalomethanes. Phased implementa-
tion of these revisions would occur over several years.
Florida passed their own SWDA as the legal authority for assuming pri-
macy of the drinking water program. DER promulgated regulations (FAC Chap-
ters 17-22) implementing the program. Chapter 17-22.104 establishes qual-
ity standards [ Appendix A] for public water supplies that basically incorpo-
rate the Federal drinking water regulations. The Florida regulations also
contain a provision authorizing DER to establish additional MCLs. Under
this provision, in early 1984 DER promulgated MCLs which take effect in
June 1985 for volatile organic chemicals in drinking water.
Without formal regulations to define the significance of observed lev-
els of VOC contamination in water supplies, the water utilities were under-
standably reluctant to expend resources on monitoring or treatment improve-
ments to lower VOC concentrations. The new Florida MCLs now provide a basis
for defining which water supplies need to address the VOC problem and help
define the level of treatment or other remedial measures needed.
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DER regulations also provide for a permit program regulating the design,
construction, operation and maintenance of public water supply systems. In
addition to obtaining permits, system operators are required to conduct
periodic monitoring of the quality of their water supply, to keep certain
records, and to report data to DER.
Both DER and the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Ser-
vices are authorized to conduct surveillance of public water supplies in-
cluding water quality monitoring. In the three counties of the study area,
this authority has been delegated to the county health departments. In
Dade County, DERM also enforces drinking water regulations.
Enforcement of drinking water regulations is usually against the water
system. If monitoring detects problems with the quality of a supply, the
county health department and/or DER notifies the system operators to take
appropriate steps to improve water quality. Where an imminent health hazard
exists, a boil water order may be issued to the public, or the supply may
be temporarily shut down and an alternate water supply provided. When a
well is found to be contaminated, several actions may be taken. If the
contamination is severe and irreversible, the well may be taken permanently
out of service. In less severe cases, the well may be taken out of service
temporarily, or restrictions placed on its use. Revisions or additions to
treatment processes may be required when alternate supplies are not available.
The key aspect of drinking water regulations with respect to contamina-
tion incidents is that enforcement of the regulations is usually against
the water suppliers. In most cases, VOC contamination orginates from some
other source, not the supplier. Other regulations are usually used to
enforce against the source of contamination as discussed below. The SDWA
does contain emergency powers provisions that allow action directly against
the source of contamination, but this approach is rarely used.
GROUNDWATER
There is currently no Federal program directed specifically at protec-
tion of groundwater quality in the broad sense. The SDWA establishes an
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VI-4
underground injection control (UIC) program for the control of the introduction
of pollutants into groundwater through injection wells. The UIC program
deals with the point sources of pollution but does not establish ground-
water quality criteria. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA), the release of hazardous wastes to groundwater from land disposal
facilities is regulated. Again, this program deals with point sources of
groundwater contamination and not the aquifer in general. Neither program
deals with industrial wastewater discharges (that are not hazardous wastes)
to ground disposal such as percolation ponds or seepage pits.
EPA is drafting a national groundwater policy that deals with protec-
tion of groundwater aquifers using a combination of existing programs/
authorities and new statutory authorities. Recent policy drafts suggest
that the basic approach will be a groundwater classification system with
water quality criteria based on water uses to be protected.
Florida already has in place a groundwater classification regulation
and groundwater quality criteria (FAC Chapter 17-3) [ Appendix B]. The Bis-
cayne and Coastal Aquifers are classified for potable water use. In addi-
tion to minimum quality criteria, the primary and secondary drinking water
standards [ Appendix A] apply to groundwater. The minimum quality criteria
address toxic substances but do not set any numerical limits. There are
thus no currently effective limits on VOCs in groundwater, but the new Flo-
rida MCLs will be applicable to groundwater when effective in June 1985.
Broward and Dade Counties also have groundwater quality criteria [ Ap-
pendix B]. Both sets of criteria are similar to the current State criteria.
The Broward County regulations, however, contain a key criterion of a 0.01-
mgh limit on chlorinated hydrocarbons other than specified pesticides.
This is the only numerical limit in the study area that can currently be
applied to VOCs in groundwater.
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The groundwater criteria are directly enforceable against a source of
pollution whether or not it has a discharge permit. Violations of ground-
water criteria have been used as the basis for remedial actions to remove
contamination of the aquifer.
In Broward County, the Environmental Quality Control Board (BCEQCB)
enforces the groundwater standards. In Dade County, the Metropolitan Dade
Environmental Resources Management Division (DERM) enforces the criteria.
BCEQCB and DERM are responsible for protection of the groundwater components
of public water supplies in their counties, whereas drinking water quality
in the public water systems is the responsibility of the county health de-
partments. GERM also enforces water supply regulations. Both BCEQCB and
GERM have groundwater monitoring programs to detect trends in groundwater
quality and any contamination problems. The U.S. Geologlical Survey also
does extensive groundwater monitoring in the area. With the exception of
special studies by DERM, most of the monitoring has not included VOCs.
Both DER and BCEQCB have begun VOC monitoring of groundwater at some indus-
trial facilities. BCEQCB has begun VOC monitoring using the county-wide
well network.
SURFACE WATER
Under the Clean Water Act, a Federal-State program for protection of
surface water quality has been established. The program parallels the Flo-
rida groundwater program. All surface waters are classified according to
use, and water quality criteria are established to protect that use. The
states establish the classifications and criteria and administer the program
with EPA guidance and overview.
DER has classified all surface waters in the study area for propagation
of aquatic life except for the canals and lakes feeding the West Palm Beach
water supply, Lake Okeechobee and a small, abandoned rock pit in northwest
Dade County. These waters are classified for public water supply. Broward
and Dade Counties have also established surface water quality criteria.
Neither the DER nor county criteria limit VOCs.
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VI -6
The surface water quality criteria are generally not enforced directly
but rather through source controls. Monitoring of water quality is conduc-
ted by various agencies. Effluent limits are established on point source
discharges to surface waters as discussed below. The counties have programs
to encourage the diversion of non—point sources such as storm runoff out of
surface waters.
WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
Wastewater discharges from municipal and industrial point sources to
surface waters are regulated by the Federal National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. EPA is required by the Clean
Water Act to develop guidance and procedures for the permit program, includ-
ing effluent limitation guidelines for various industrial categories. EPA
has developed guidance and is in the process of promulgating effluent guide-
lines for all industrial categories.
The NPDES program was designed to be operated by EPA with eventual
delegation to the states. EPA issued NPDES permits to all discharges in
the study area. Florida has not taken over the NPDES program, so compliance
monitoring and enforcement of permit conditions are the responsibility of
EPA.
DER does have a wastewater discharge permit program that covers dis-
charges to both surface and groundwaters. DER has adopted NPDES effluent
guidelines by reference as a basis for effluent-limited permits, whether to
surface or groundwaters. Permit limits may be based on surface or ground-
water quality criteria where necessary. Both Broward and Dade Counties
have adopted effluent limitations applicable to all wastewater discharges
to surface and groundwaters in these counties.
Compliance monitoring and enforcement of DER permits are conducted by
BCEQCB and by DERM in Broward and Dade Counties, respectively. In Palm
Beach County, the health department has these responsibilities.
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Enforcement of industrial waste permits to discharge to groundwaters
has been used to abate several serious groundwater contamination problems.
Lack of such a permit has also been used to abate problems.
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL
The active generation, transportation and treatment, storage or disposal
of hazardous wastes (as defined by 40 CFR Part 261) are regulated at the
Federal level by Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA). EPA has nearly completed the initial promulgation of regulations
to fully implement the RCRA program and is revising the regulations to im-
prove the management of hazardous wastes. A major element of the RCRA pro-
gram is a permit program applicable to all facilities that store, treat,
or dispose of hazardous wastes. All generators and transporters of hazard-
ous wastes are not required to obtain permits but must comply with various
RCRA regulations. The intent of the RCRA program is to regulate hazardous
wastes from generation to ultimate disposal.
The permit program operates in two major phases. Because a lengthy
period of time was required to develop permit standards and begin issuing
RCRA permits, all treatment, storage and disposal (TDS) facilities that
notified EPA of their activity by mid-1980 were automatically granted “in-
terim status”, a quasi-permit in which the operations were required to meet
certain requirements similar to but generally less stringent than permit
standards. At a later date the facility is issued a RCRA permit containing
additional technical and administrative requirments specific to the facility.
It is the intent of RCRA that the entire hazardous waste program be
operated by the states with EPA overview. This was to be achieved in two
phases. The state would initially be authorized to enforce the interim
status standards. In the second phase, the state would be authorized to
operate the full program, including permit issuance and enforcement.
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Florida pursed and has obtained authorization for the full RCRA program.
Interim status authorization was granted by EPA to DER in 1982. DER has
conducted numerous interim status inspection of hazardous waste management
facilities. Enforcement actions have been taken to secure compliance with
interim status standards.
DER has promulgated regulations establishing a hazardous waste program
for Florida (FAC Chapter 17-30). Application for full program authorization
was made to EPA in July 1983, and authorization to issue permits to storage
facilities and incinerators was granted in December 1983. Authorization to
issue land disposal permits was granted in February 1984.
RCRA permits for ISO facilities and regulations for generators and
transporters will reduce the instances of improper hazardous waste manage-
ment that contributed to groundwater contamination in the past. However,
interim status inspections have shown that much of the industrial activity
in the study area involving volatile organic chemicals is exempt from most
RCRA regulation because the facility is a small generator or wastes are
stored for less than 90 days or recycled. Thus other means of detecting
and preventing bad practices may be needed. DERM has initiated an inspec-
tion program in Dade County to address this problem.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act (CERCLA or Superfund) was established to deal with two types of hazard-
ous waste problems: spills or leaks of hazardous materials that pose an
imminent threat to public health or the environment and inactive hazardous
waste disposal sites that pose major environmental problems. Superfund can
be used for immediate removal of spills or of contamination at an inactive
disposal site when it is discovered that an imminent hazard is present.
Long-term remedial actions can be taken at inactive sites if the environ-
mental problems are severe enough to place the site on the National Priori-
ties List. There are eight sites in the study area among the nearly 500 on
the list. Superfund is funded by a tax on the production of certain types
of chemical and petroleum products. Site cleanup costs are initially pro-
vided by the fund. Reimbursement is then sought from responsible parties.
Voluntary remedial actions may also be undertaken by responsible parties.
-------
vI_g
In most cases, the state is required to provide 10% of the cleanup
costs. Florida has established a hazardous waste trust fund similar to
Superfund to provide matching money and to clean up additional sites.
More than $2 million from Superfund have been spent in the study area
to clean up the Miami Drum site, to conduct site investigations and feasi-
bility studies at numerous sites, and to develop remedial action master
plans for several sites. EPA and DER are cooperating in directing this
effort with contractor technical support.
There are a number of inactive disposal sites in the study area that
may eventually require remedial action but probably do not warrant place-
ment on the National Priorities List. An alternate means of funding reme-
dial actions will be needed in these cases.
Florida has recently begun a program to enhance the safe disposal of
small quantities of hazardous wastes frequently disposed of inadequately or
illegally. On designated “Amnesty Days”, citizens may bring small quantities
of hazardous wastes to a collection point for disposal by a contractor.
LAND USE
Both Broward and Dade Counties have recognized the vulnerability of
the various public water supply weilfields to contamination by the improper
handling and disposal of volatile organic chemicals and other pollutants
near the wellfields. Dade County has passed an ordinance that identifies
the location of all public water supply wellfields in the county and estab-
lishes the limits of a zone around each wellfield that represents the theo-
retical extent of a 210-day travel time for groundwater in the aquifer.
Land uses within this 210-day limit are restricted. No new activity hand-
ling certain hazardous materials can be located in these weilfield zones.
Existing activities are also restricted.
-------
VI-lo
Broward County is in the process of implementing such an ordinance.
Because of problems with groundwater contamination from leaking under-
ground storage tanks, primarily gasoline tanks at service stations, ordi-
nances regulating such tanks are being developed.
It is clear that there are many agencies and regulatory programs di-
rectly or indirectly related to the protection of drinking water quality.
A partial listing of those agencies involved in the study area includes the
following:
Federal
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Geological Survey
State
Department of Environmental Regulation
Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services
South Florida Water Management District
Broward County
Public Health Unit
Environmental Quality Control Board
Water Resources Planning Division
Dade County
Department of Health
Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources
Management
Palm Beach County
Public Health Unit
Numerous Water and Sewer Utilities
-------
REFERENCES
-------
REFERENCES
1. United States Census Bureau, 1980.
2. United States Geological Survey, Sep. 1978. Biscayne Aquifer, South-
east Florida, Florida Water Resources Division, USGS/WRD/WRI-79/003;
USGS/WRI-78/107.
3. United States Geological Survey, Feb. 1976. The Shallow Aquifer - A
Prime Freshwater Resource in Eastern Palm Beach County, Florida. Water
Resources Investigation 76-21.
4. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Parts 141, 142 and 143.
5. Computerized Inventory of Public Water Supplies for Fiscal Year 1982,
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
6. Listing of Public Water Supplies in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Coun-
ties, Florida. Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, Talla-
hassee, Florida, January 1984.
7. Broward County Public Health Unit program files.
8. Federal Water Quality Administration, 1970. Pollution of the Waters
of Dade County, Florida. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 10 4 p.
9. United States Environmental Protection Agency, March 1971. Report on
Dade County Industrial Waste Sources Inventory and Evaluation. Denver:
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-330/2-71-003.
10. Journal AWWA, Nov. 1975. National Organics Reconnaissance Survey for
Halogenated Organics. Water Technology/Quality, 634p.
11. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV, Environmental Services
Division, Athens, Georgia, program files.
12. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV, Water Supply Branch,
Atlanta, Georgia, program files.
13. United States Environmental Protection Agency, August 1980. Removing
Potential Organic Carcinogens and Percursors from Drinking Water.
Cincinnati, Ohio: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600/2—80—130a.
14. United States Geological Survey, Jun. 1976. Groundwater Quality in
the Davie Landfill, Broward County, Florida. Tallahassee, Florida,
Water Resources Division, USGS/WRD/WRI-76/057; USGS/WRI-76/56.
15. United States Geological Survey, Mar. 1978. Groundwater Quality Near
the Northwest 58th Street Solid-Waste Disposal Facility, Dade County,
Florida. Tallahassee, Florida, Water Resources Division, USGS/WRD/
WRI-79/034; USGS/WRI-78-45.
-------
2
REFERENCES (cont.)
16. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, June 1978. The Inventory, Sampling and Analyses of Raw Water
from the Major Public Water Supply Wells in Dade County for Selected
Volatile Organic Compounds and Organochlorine Insecticides. Dade Coun-
ty, Florida.
17. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, Mar. 1980. Volatile Organics Monitoring Program and Finalization
of Herbicide sampling. Dade County, Florida.
18. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Jan. 1983. The Ground-
water Supply Survey Suzmnary of Volatile Organic Contaminant Occurrence
Data. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio.
19. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Drinking Water,
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1981-1982, Groundwater Supply Survey data on water
supplies in South Florida.
20. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Sep. 1983. Biscayne
Aquifer/Dade County. Environmental Protection Agency, Hazardous Site
Control Division, Atlanta, Georgia.
21. Ecology and Environment, Inc. , Oct. 1982. Field Investigations of
Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites. Ecology and Environment, Inc.
TDD# F4-8207-01.
22. Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, Southeast Florida Dis-
trict, West Palm Beach, program files.
23. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, Sep. 1982. Biscayne Aquifer Project, A Pollutant Source Inven-
tory for Public Water Supply Wellfields in Dade County, Florida. Dade
County, Florida.
24. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, Jul. 1983. Residual Effects of Fromer Solid Waste Sites in Dade
County. Dade County, Florida.
25. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Mar. 1983. Report on
Public Health Concern Related to Lack of Sewers in the City of Medley
and the City of Hialeah Gardens. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region IV, Atlanta, Georgia.
26. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Aug. 1982. Final Envi-
ronmental Impact Statement for Southern Region, Palm Beach County,
Florida Wastewater Facilities. Atlanta: Environmental Protection
Agency, EPA/904/ 9-82-099.
-------
3
REFERENCES (cont.)
27. Gee & Jenson, May 1981. Industrial Pretreatment Study, East Central
Subregional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Gee & Jenson, West Palm Beach,
Florida.
28. Broward County Water Resources Management Division, Mar. 1983. An
Assessment of the Impact of Stormwater Retention Basins on Groundwater
Quality, Broward County, Florida.
29. Water Resources Planning and Programming Section, Mar. 1983. Assess-
ing the Extent of Pesticide Residue in Surface Water, Groundwater and
Finished Potable Water. Broward County Water Resources Management
Division.
30. Proceedings AW’WA Annual Conference, May 1982. Control of THMs and
Color at Ft. Lauderdale. Miami Beach, Florida, Paper No 27-6, 981-
1015 p.
31. American Society of Civil Engineers Proceedings of the 1982 National
Conference on Environmental Engineering. ThM Removal in South Florida
Water Supply. New York, New York.
32. Proceedings AWWA Annual Conference, May 1982. A Study of Trihalometh—
ane Removal by Packed Water Aeration. Miami Beach, Florida, Paper No
12-3, 405-424 p.
33. Department of Environmental Resources Management, Nov. 1983. A Survey
of Major Public Utilities in Dade County for Eighteen Volatile Syn-
thetic organic Compounds. Department of Environmental Resources Man-
agement, Water and Sewer Division.
34. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, Miami, Florida, program files.
35. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, Jun. 1983. An Investigation of the Presence of Vinyl Chloride
Contamination at the Preston and Hialeah Water Treatment Plants. Dade
County, Florida.
36. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV, Atlanta,
Georgia, program files.
37. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Drinking Water,
Cincinnati, Ohio, program files.
38. Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, Tallahassee, Florida,
program files.
39. Broward County Public Health Unit, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, program
files.
-------
4
REFERENCES (cont.)
40. Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board, Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, Program files.
41. Dade County Department of Public Health, Miami, Florida, program files.
42. Palm Beach County Health Department , West Palm Beach, Florida, pro-
gram files.
43. United States Geological Survey, Tallahassee, Florida, program files.
44. United States Geological Survey, Miami, Florida, program files.
45. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Parts 264 and 265.
46. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, Program files.
47. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, March 1980. Volatile Organics Monitoring Program and Finaliza-
tion of Herbicide Sampling. Dade County, Florida.
48. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, National Revised Primary Drink-
ing Water Regulations, Volatile Synthetic Organic Chemicals in Drinking
Water, 47 FR 9350, March 4, 1982.
49. Metropolitan Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Manage-
ment, Spring 1983. Trihalomethane Monitoring Report. Dade County,
Florida.
50. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Services
Division. Athens, Georgia, File data
51. Drinking Water Research Center School of Technology, Florida Interna-
tional University, Tamiami Campus, Sep. 1981, Anaerobic Transformation,
Transport and Removal of Volatile Chlorinated Organics in Groundwater.
Miami, Florida.
52. R. S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, Biotransformation of
Selected Organic Pollutants in Ground Water. Ada, Oklahoma and Canter-
bury, New Zealand.
53. Water Information Center, The Groundwater Newsletter, October 13, 1983.
Syosset, New York.
54. United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Enforcement
Investigations Center, Denver, Colorado. File data.
55. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Directory of Florida Industries, 1982.
Tallahassee, Florida.
-------
5
REFERENCES (Cant.)
56. Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board, October 1981.
Report on Industrial Was tewater Discharges and Industrial Sludge
Generator/Disposal. Broward County, Florida.
57. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Permit Compliance
System Computer Database, Washington, D.C. August 1983.
58. Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. Inventory of Indus-
trial Waste Permits, October 1983, West Palm Beach, Florida.
59. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Development Document
for Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Elecrrical
and Electronic Point Source Category. EPA 440/1-80/075-a, October
1980, Washington, D. C.
60. United States Environmental Protection Agency. National Priority List
for Hazardous Waste Sites Under the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act. Washington, D. C.
61. American Society for Civil Engineers. Proceedings of the 1983 National
Conference on Environmental Engineering, Cleanup of the Fliami Drum
Hazardous Waste Site. New York, New York.
62. Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board. 1982 Annual Report.
Broward County, Florida
63. Broward County Planning Council, June 1980. The Potable Water Element
of the Broward County Comprehensive Plan. Broward County, Florida.
64. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, National Revised Primary Drink-
ing Water Regulations, 48 FR 45502, October 5, 1983.
-------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
-------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 17, Department of Environmental
Regulation.
2. Code of Regulations of the Broward County Environmental Quality Control
Board, Chapter 27.
3. Dade County Code, Section 24.
4. Yoder, Douglas, Aquifer Management in Dade County, Water/Engineering
and Management, April 1982.
5. Pye, Veronica I; Patrick, Ruth; and Quarles, John, Groundwater Contam-
ination in the United States, Uiversity of Pennsylvania Press, Phila-
delphia, 1983.
6. Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board, A Comprehensive
Disposal Plan for Sanitary, Septic Tank and Grease Trap Sludges for
Broward County, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March 1983.
7. United States Geological Survey, Effects of Land Use and Water Manage-
ment on Water Quality in the Western South New River Canal Basin, South-
east Florida, 1974-75, Water Resources Investigations 78-30, Miami,
Florida, March 1978.
8. United States Geological Survey, Water-Quality Data for Selected Sta-
tions in the East Everglades, Florida, Open File Report 81-821, Talla-
hassee, Florida, 1981.
9. United States Geological Survey, Water Resources of Broward County,
Florida, Open File Report 73007, Tallahassee, Florida, 1973.
10. Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, Exceedances of the
Ambient Air Quality Standards in Florida in 1980, Tallahassee, Florida,
December 1981.
11. Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, Exceedances of the
Ambient Air Quality Standards in florida in 1981, Tallahassee, Florida,
October 1982.
12. United States Environmental Protection Agency, A Guidance for Protec-
tion of Ground Water Resources from the Effects of Accidental Spills
of Hydrocarbons and Other Hazardous Substances, EPA-57O/9- 79O17, Wash-
ington, D.C. , July 1979.
13. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Treatment of Volatile
Organic Compounds in Drinking Water, EPA-600/8-83-019, Cincinnati,
Ohio, May 1983.
-------
2
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Cont.)
14. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Treatment Techniques
for Controlling Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water, Cincinnati, Ohio,
1981.
15. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Removing Potential Organ-
ic Carcinogens and Precursors from Drinking Water, Vol. 1 and Appen-
dix A, EPA-600/2-80-13a, August 1980.
16. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Organic Characterization
of Aerosols and Vapor Phase Components in Urban Atmospheres, EPA-600/
3-78-031, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, March 1978.
17. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Aerosol Source Charac-
terization Study in Miami, Florida, Microscopial Analysis and Trace
Element Analysis, EPA-600/7-79-097 and 197, Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina, Sep. 1979.
18. United States Geological Survey, Ground-Water Resources of the Riviera
Beach Area, Palm Beach County, Florida, Water Resources Investigation
77-076. Tallahassee, Florida, September 1972.
19. United States Geological Survey, Hydraulic Conductivity and Water Qual-
ity of the Shallow Aquifer, Palm Beach County, Florida, Water Resources
Investigation 76-119. Tallahassee, Florida, April 1977.
20. United States Geological Survey, The Shallow Aquifer, Palm Beach County,
Florida, Water Resources Investigation 76-038. Tallahassee, Florida,
February 1976.
21. United States Geological Survey, Evaluation of a Cavity—Riddled Zone
of the Shallow Aquifer Near Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida,
Water Resources Investigation 80-060. Tallahassee, Florida, July 1980.
22. National Air Pollution Control Administration, Miami-Fort Lauderdale—
West Palm Beach Air Pollutant Emission Inventory, APTDO821. Durham,
North Carolina, April 1970.
23. GCA Corp., National Assessment of the Urban Particulate Problem, Vol.
XIV, Miami, Florida. EPA/450/3-76/026L, Research Traingle Park, N.C.,
July 1976.
24. United States Geological Survey, Simulation of Dissolved Oxygen and -
Biochamical Oxygen Demand, Plantation Canal, Broward County, Florida,
Water Resource Investigation 76-033. Tallahassee, Florida, Dec. 1975.
25. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Final Environmental
Impact Statement for Southern Region, Palm Beach County, Florida Waste-
water Facilities, EPA/904/9-82-099. Atlanta, Georgia, August 1982.
-------
3
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Cont.)
26. Federal Water Quality Administration, Pollution of the Waters of Dade
County, Florida. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1970.
27. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Report on Waste Source
Inventory and Evaluation, Dade County, Florida. Athens, Georgia, June
1971.
28. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Report on Waste Source
Inventory and Evaluation, Dade County, Florida, Technical Appendix I,
Major Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities. Athens, Georgia,
June 1971.
29. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Report on Waste Source
Inventory and Evaluation, Dade County, Florida, App. II Minor Munici-
pal Wastewater Treatment Facilities. Athens, Georgia, June 1971.
30. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Industrial Waste Survey,
Dade County. Florida, Technical Report TSO3-71-208-03.1. Athens,
Georgia, September 1971.
31. National Field Investigations Center, Industrial Waste Sources Inven-
tion and Evaluation, Dade County, Florida, EPAI33O/2-711003, Denver,
Cob. , March 1971.
32. National Field Investigations Center, Pollution from Major Municipal
Waste Sources in Dade County, Florida, EPA/330/2-71/002, Denver, Cob.
March 1971.
33. National Field Investigations Center, Remote Sensing Study, Eastern
Florida Coast, Dade County, Florida. Denver, Cob. , April 1972.
34. Federal Water Quality Administration, Proceedings: Conference in the
Matter of Pollution of the Navigable Waters of Biscayne Bay and Its
Tributaries in the State of Florida, Held at Miami, Florida on Feb. 24,
25, 26, 1970. Washington, D.C., Feb. 1970.
35. Federal Water Quality Administration, Population of the Navigable Waters
of Dade County, Florida and Tributaries, Enbay7nents and Coastal Waters.
Proceedings of Conference Held at Miami, Florida on October 20-22,
1970. Washington, D.C.
36. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Pollution of the Navi-
gable Waters of Dade County, Florida and Tributaries, Embayments and
Coastal Waters. Proceedings of Conference Session (2nd) Held at Miami,
Florida on Feb. 18-19, 1971, Atlanta, Georgia, 1971.
37. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Pollution of the Navi-
gable Waters of Dade County, Florida and Tributaries, Embayinents and
Coastal Waters. Proceedings of Conference Session (3i d) Held at Miami,
Florida on July 2-3, 1971, Atlanta, Gerogia, July 1971.
-------
4
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Cont.)
38. United States Geological Survey, Saltwater - Barrier Line in Florida:
Concepts, Considerations and Site Examples. Water Resource Investiga-
tions 79-073, Tallahassee, Florida, June 1979.
39. United States Geological Survey, Effects of Bottom Sediments on Infil-
tration from the Miami and Tributary Canals to the Biscayne Aquifer,
Dade County, Florida, Water Resource Investigations 78-074. Miami,
Florida, June 1978.
40. United States Geological Survey, Assessment of Water Quality in Canals
of Eastern Broward County, Florida, 1960-74, Water Resources Investi-
gations 82-3. Tallahassee, Florida, 1982.
41. United States Geological Survey, Areal Extent of a Plume of Mineralized
Water from a Flowing Artesian Well in Dade County, Florida, Water
resources Investigations 82-20. Tallahassee, Florida, 1982.
42. Montgomery, James M. , Inc. , Water Quality Criteria and Effluent Require-
ments in Broward County, Florida, Journal of the Water Pollution Con-
trol Federation, Vol. 54, No. 3, p. 298-308, March 1982.
43. Palm Beach County Area Planning Board, Survey of Legal and Administra-
tive Authority Affecting Air, Water and Solid Waste Planning, Part 1,
Data Summary. West Palm Beach, Florida, 1969.
44. ICE Inc. , Institutional Responses to Contamination of Ground Water
Used for Public Water Supplies: Implications for EPA R & D Programs,
EPA-600/6-84-004. Washington, D.C. , January 1984.
45. United States Geological Survey, Storzmvater Quality Processes for Three
Lane-Use Areas in Broward County, Florida, Water Resources Investiga-
tion 81-23, Tallahassee, Florida, March 1981.
46. Broward County Area Planning Board, Report on Water and Wastewater for
Broward County, Florida. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Feb. 1970.
47. Palm Beach County Area Planning Board, Comprehensive Water Supply Sew-
erage, Solid Waste and Air Pollution Control Plans. West Palm Beach,
Florida, Feb. 1970.
48. Palm Beach County Area Planning Board, Comprehensive Air Pollution
Control Plan, Part 1, Data Summary: Air Pollution and Meteorolgy.
West Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 1968.
49. Palm Beach County Area Planning Board, Comprehensive Sewerage Plan,
Part. 1, Data Summary: Public Sewerage Systems. West Palm Beach Flo-
rida, Dec. 1968.
50. Palm Beach County Area Planning Board, Comprehensive Water supply Plan,
Part 1, Data Summary: Public Water Supply Systems. West Palm Beach,
Florida, Nov. 1968.
-------
5
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Cont.)
51. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Wastewater Facilities,
Southern Region Area, Palm Beach County, Florida, (Draft Environmental
Impact Statement) EPA-9O4/9-81-O83. Atlanta, Georgia, Sept. 1982.
-------
APPENDICES
A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
B GROUNDWATER QUALITY CRITERIA
-------
APPENDIX A
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
-------
A-i
samples must he collected from loca-
tions representative of the distri-
bution system, unless otherwise
specified.
17—22.104 Quality Standards:
Maximum Contaminant Levels or
Treatment Techniques.
(1) PRIMARY DRINKING WATER
REGULATIONS-maximum contaminant
levels.
(a) INORGANICS
1. The following are maximum
contaminant levels applicable to
community water systems.
PART II
QUALITY STANDARDS,
ANALYTICAL METHODS,
SAMPLING
General—-The ultimate concern of a
public drinking water program is the
quality of the water when the water
reaches the citizens. The following
regulations establish the maximum
contaminant levels or the treatment
technique as well as sampling and
analysis requirements for the water
within public water systems. All
2. The maximum contaminant
level for nitrate (as N) applicable
to non-community water systems is 10
milligrams per liter unless all of
the following conduions are met, in
which case the Department or desig-
nated county health unit can allow a
maximum contaminant level for ni-
trate (as N) of up to 20 milligrams
per liter.
a. The water distributed by the
water system is not available to
children under 6 months of age.
b. There is continuous posting
of the fact that nitrate levels
exceed 10 milligrams per liter and
the potential health effects of
exposure. -
c. Local and state public
0ER1982 PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS 17-22
Contaminant Level, milligrams —
per liter
Arsenic 0.05
Barium I.
Cadmium 0.010
Chromium 0.05
Lead 0.05
Mercury 0.002
Nitrate (as N) 10.
Selenium 0.01
Silver 0.05
Sodium 150
7—8—82
17—22. 103(33) — — 17—22.104(1) (a)2.c.
-------
A-2
DER1982 PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
health authorities are notified
annually of nitrate levels that
exceed 10 millIgrams per liter.
d. No adverse health effects
shall result from the increased
nitrate level.
e. Monitoring is increased to
once per quarter for the first year
10 milligrams per liter is exceeded,
(c) TURBIDITY-The maximum
contaminant levels for turbidity are
applicable to both community water
systems and non-community water
systems using surface water sources
semiannually for the second year,
and once per year thereafter.
3. When the annual average of
the maximum daily air temperatures
for the location in which the com-
munity water system is situated is
the following, the maximum contami-
nant levels for fluoride are:
in whole or in part. The maximum
contaminant level for turbidity also
applies to community water supply
systems utilizing groundwater
source(s). The maximum contaminant
17—22
Temperature
Degrees Fahrenheit Degrees Celsius
level, milligrams
per liter
S
53.7 and below 12.0 and below
2.14
53.8 to 58.3 12.1 to 14.6
2.2
58.4 to 63.8 1’4.7 to 17.6
2.0
63.9 to 70.6 17.7 to 21.4
1.8
70.7 to 79.2 21.5 to 26.2
1.6
79.3 to 90.5 26.3 to 32.5
1.4
(b) ORGANICS-The following applicable
to community water
are maximum contaminant levels systems.
Contaminant
Level, milligrams
per liter
1. Chlorinated hydrocarbons:
Endrin (1,2,3,4,10,10—hexachloro—
0.0002
6, 7—epoxy——i, ,4a, 5,6 ,7, 8,
8a—octa-hydro-endo, endo--1,4:
5,8——dimethano naphthalene).
Lindane (1,2,3,4,5,6,—hexachloro—
0.004
cyclohexane, gamma isomer).
Methoxychlor (1, 1,1 ,-Trichloro—2,
2—bis (p-methoxyphenyl) ethane.
0 • 1
Toxaphene (C 10 H 10 C 8 -Technicai
0.005
chlorinated camphene, 67-69 percent
chlorine).
2. Chlorophenoxys:
2,14,——D,(2,4,——Dichlorophenoxyacetic
0.1
acid).
2,4,5,—TP, Silvex (2,t4,5—Trichloro—
0.01
phenoxypropionic acid).
7—8—82
17—22.104(1)(a)2.c. —— 17—22.104(1)(c)
-------
A-3
PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
levels for turbidity in drinking
water, measured at a representative
entry point(s) to this distribution
system or at other points on each
system as may be significant to such
as post—p reci p i tat ion conditions or
iron precipitate build up and re-
lease, are:
1. One turbidity unit, as de-
terniined by a monthly average for
surface water systems or a single
triennial analysis for groundwater
systems, except that five or fewer
turbidity units may be allowed if
the supplier of water can demon-
strate to the Department that the
higher turbidity does not do any of
the following:
a. Interfere with disinfec-
tion;
b. Prevent maintenance of an
effective disinfectant agent
throughout the distribution system;
or
c. Interfere with microbiologi-
cal determinations.
2. Five turbidity units based
on average for two consecutive
days.
(d) MICROBiOLOGICAL-The
maximum contaminant levels for coil—
form bacteria, applicable to commu-
nity water systems and non-community
water systems, are as follows;
1 • When the membrane filter
technique is used, the number of
coliforn, bacteria shall not exceed
any of the following:
a. One per 100 milliliters as
the arithmetic means of all samples
examined per month;
b. Four per 100 milliliters in
more than one sample when less than
20 are examined per month; or
c. Four per 100 milliliters in
more than five percent of the sam-
ples when 20 or more are examined
per month.
2. When the fermentation tube
method and 10 milliliter standard
portions are used, coliform bacteria
shall not be present in any of the
following:
a. more than 10 percent of the
portions in any month;
b. three or more portions in
more than one sample when less than
20 samples are examined per month;
or
c. three or more portions in
more than five percent of the sam-
ples when 20 or more samples are
examined per month;
3. When the fermentation tube
method and 100 milliliter standard
portions are used, coliform bacteria
shall not be present in any of the
following:
a. more than 60 percent of the
portions in any month;
b. five portions in more than
one sample when less than five sam-
ples are examined per month; or
c. five portions in more than
20 percent of the samples when five
or more samples are examined per
month.
4. At the Department’s d,scre—
tion, community systems required to
take tO or fewer samples per month
may be authorized to exclude one
positive membrane filter routine
sample (+1 or greater) per month or
one positive routine sample per
month consisting of one or more
positive tubes from the monthly or
quarterly average calculation if all
of the following conditions are
met.
a. As approved on a case-by-
case basis, the Department deter-
mines and indicates in writing to
the public water system that no
unreasonable risk to health existed
under the conditions of this modifi-
cation. This dete rmination should
DER 1982
17—22
7—8—82
17—22.1OL I(1)(c) —— 17—22. 104(1)(d)4.a.
-------
A-4
DER1982 PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
be based upon a number of factors
including but not limited to the
following:
(I) the system provided and had
maintained an active disinfectant
residual in the distribution sys-
tem,
(ii) a minimal potential for
contamination as indicated by a
sanitary survey, and,
(iii) the history of the water
quality at the public water system.
b. The supplier shall initiate
a check sample on each of two con-
secutive days from the same sampling
point within 24 hours after notifi-
cation that the routine sample is
positive, and each of these check
samples must be negative.
c. The original positive rout-
ine sample is reported and record-
ed by the supplier pursuant to
17—22.111(1) (a) and 17—22.111(2)(a).
The supplier shall report to the
Department its compliance with the
conditions specified in this para-
graph and a summary of the correc-
tive action taken to resolve the
prior positive sample result. If a
positive routine sample is not used
for the monthly calculation, another
routine sample must be analyzed for
compliance purposes. This provision
may be used only once during two
consecutive compliance periods.
5. For community or non—commu-
nity systems that are required to
sample at a rate of less than 14 per
month, compliance with Sections
(1)(d)1., 2., or 3. shall be based
upon sampling during a 3—month
period. The Department may upon
request authorize compliance to be
based upon sampling during a one-
month period.
6. If an average MCL violation
is caused by a single sample MCL
violation as described in 17—22.104
(1)(d)1.b., then the case shall he
treated as one violation with
respect to the public notification
requirements of 17—22.112.
(e) RADIONUCLIDES-The fol-
lowing are maximum contaminant lev-
els applicable to community water
system:
1. Radium—226, radium—228, and
gross alpha particle radioactivity.
. Combined radium-226 and
radium—228 — 5 pCi/I.
b. Gross alpha particle acti-
vity (including radium-226, but
excluding radon and uranium) - IS
pCi/I.
2. Beta particle and photon
radioactivity from man-made radio—
nuclides.
a. The average annual concen-
tration of beta particle and photon
radioactivity from man—made radio—
nuclides in drinking water shall not
produce an annual dose equivalent to
the total body or any internal organ
greater than 4 millirem/year.
b. Except for the radionuclide
listed in Table A, the concentration
of man—made radionuclides causing 14
mrem total body or organ dose equi-
valents shall be calculated on the
basis of a 2 liter per day drinking
water intake using the 168—hour data
listed in “Maximum Permissible Body
Burdens and MaximumPermissible Con-
centration of Radionuclides in Air
or Water for Occupational Exposure,”
NBS Handbook 69 as amended August
1963, U.S. Department of Commerce.
If two or more radionuclides are
present, the sum of their annual
dose equivalent to the total body or
to any organ shall not exceed 4
mil lirem/year.
17—22.104(1)(d) 1 4.a. —— 17—22.104(1)(e)2.b.
17—22
7—8—82
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A-5
DER19S2 PUBLIC DRiNKING WATER SYSTEMS 17-22
Table A-Average Annual Concentration Assumed to Produce a Total l3ody
or Organ Dose of 4 niremf year.
Radionuclide Critica
Tritium Total
I organ pCi per liter
body 20,000
Strontjum-90 Bone
marrow 8
(f) TRIHALOMETHANE-The fol—
taminant levels. These levels shall
lowing maximum contaminant levels
not be exceeded in community water
are for trihalornethanes (THM’s) and
systems. If an MCL is exceeded,
are applicable to all community
appropPiate action, acceptable to
water supply systems serving a
the Department, including water
population of 10,000 or more indivi—
treatment plant additions and modi—
duals and which add a disinfectant
fications, shall be taken to provide
(oxidant) to the water in any part
water in which the MCL is not ex-
of the drinking water treatment
ceeded. Results of secondary con—
process:
taminant analyses performed by a
1. Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)
certified laboratory prior to the
shall include the sum of the con—
effective date of these revised
centrations bromodichioromethane,
regulations shall be considered for
dibromochiorornethane, tribomorneth-
acceptance by the Department. The
ane (bromoform) and trichlororneth—
following are maximum contaminant
ane (chloroform)-0.l0 mg/I (MCL).
levels applicable to community water
(2) SECONDARY DRINKING
systems:
WATER REGULATIONS-maximum con-
Contaminant
Levels, Milligrams Per Literk T
Chloride
250
Color
15 color units
Copper
1
Corrosivity
**neither corrosive nor scale
forming.
Foaming agents
0.5
Iron
0.3
Manganese
0.05
Odor
3 (threshold odor number)
pH (at collection point)
6.5 (mm. allowable — no max.)
Sulfate
250
TDS
500 (may be greater if no other
MCL is exceeded)
Zinc
5
*except color, odor, corrosivity and
Index range of —0.2 to +0.2 should
pH.
be used as a guideline toward ob—
**Assessment of degree of corrosion
taming water stability if calcium
or scale forming tendencies must be
carbonate is present. If stabiliz—
based on historical water character—
ers are used, the —0.2 to +0.2 range
istics of the system. A Langelier
may not be applicable.
7—8—82
17—22.104(1)(f) —— 17—22.104(2)
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A-6
PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
(3) OTHER CONTAMINANTS
WITHOUT A STANDARD-It is pro-
hibited to introduce into a public
water system any contaminant which
creates or has the potential to
create an Imminent and substantial
danger to the public.
(4) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
17—22.104 & 17-22.105, FLORIDA
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE-All contami-
nants having an MCL established by
Section 17—22.104, Florida Adminis-
trative Code, are required to be
sampled and analyzed as established
by Section 17—22.105. Florida Admin-
istrative Code.
Specific Authority: 403.861(8), F.S.
Law Implemented: 403.852(12)(13),
403.853(1), F.S . History: New
11—9—77, Amended 1—13—81, 3—30—82.
17—22.105 SamplIng and
Analytical Methods.
( 1) SAMPLING A ND ANALYTICAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIMARY CON-
TAM IN ANTS
(a) INORGANIC chemical sam-
pling and analytical requirements.
1. Analyses for the purpose
of determining compliance with
17—22.104(1)(a) are required as
follows:
a. Analyses for all community
water systems utilizing surface
water sources shall be completed by
June 24, 1978. These analyses shall
be repeated at yearly intervals.
b. Analyses for all community
water systems utilizing only ground
water sources, shall be completed by
June 24, 1979. These analyses shall
be repeated at three—year inter-
vals.
c. For non-community water sys-
tems, whether supplied by surface or
ground water sources, analyses for
nitrate shall be completed by June
24, 1979. These analyses shall be
repeated at five—year intervals.
2. If the result of an analysis
made pursuant to paragraph 17-22.105
(1)(a)1. indicates that the level
of any contaminant listed in
17—22.1014(1)(a) exceeds the maximum
contaminant level, the supplier of
water shall report said fact to the
Department within 7 days and initi-
ate and complete three additional
analyses for the suspect contaminant
at the same sampling point within
one n onth.
3. When the average of four
analyses made pursuant to paragraph
17—22.105(1)(a)1. and 2. of this
Section, rounded to the same number
of significant figures as the max—
imum contaminant level for the sub-
stance in question, exceeds the
maximum contaminant level, the
supplier of water shall notify the
Department pursuant to 17—22.111(2).
Monitoring after public notification
shall be at a frequency designated
by the Department and shall continue
until the maximum contaminant level
has not been exceeded in two succes-
sive samples or until a monitoring
schedule as a condition to a vari-
ance, exemption or enforcement
action shall become effective.
4. The provisions of paragraphs
(1)(a)2. and 3. of this section not-
withstanding, compliance with the
maximum contaminant level for ni-
trate shall be determined on the
basis of the mean of two analyses.
When a level exceeding the maximum
contaminant level for nitrate is
found, a second analysis shall be
initiated within 24 hours, and if
the mean of the two analyses exceeds
the maximum contaminant level, the
supplier of water shall report his
findings to the Department pursuant
to 17—22.111(2) and shall notify the
public pursuant to 17—22.112.
—— 17—22. 105(1)(a)4.
DER 1982
17—22
7—8—82
17—22.104(3)
-------
17-22.104(l)(g) VOLATILE ORGANICS
The following maximum contaminant levels (MCL’s) for volatile
organics are applicable to all community water systems.
concentrations are based on present state of the art” analytical
detection limits as applied to routine sampling, risk analysis,
carcinogenicity and chronic toxicity, and may be lowered in the
future, commensurate with increasi.ng laboratory capability or
further data indicating adverse effects on human health.
Contaminant Level, Micrograms Per Liter
Trichloroethylene 3
Tetrachloroethylene 3
Carbon Tetrachioride 3
Vinyl Chloride I
1,1, l-Trichloroethane 200
1, 2-Dich] .oroethane 3
Beazene
Ethylene Dibromide 0.02
l7—22.105(l)Cg) VOLATILE ORGANICS - Saarnling and Analytical
Requirements:
1. Regulations for volatile organic MCLs as set forth in 17—
22.104(l)(g) shall take effect June 1, 1985 for systems
serving more than 1,000 persons, and Jan
uary 1, 1987 for
systems serving less than 1,000
persons.
Analyses for
contaminants shall be performed
at three
year intervals.
Sampling shall be performed on finished
water leaving the
water
treatment
plant except for ethylene dib
romide which
shall
be
sampled
before chlorination.
When a
system is
provided
water f
rom multiple treatment
plants
a sample(s)
representative of the distribution system’s water will be
-------
sufficient. If a sample analysis exceeding the MCL occurs,
two additional samples shall be collected and confirmed by
GC/MS within one month. If the average value of the three
sample results exceeds the MCL, quarterly sampling will be
required until two consecutive sample results do not exceed
the MCL value.
2. Analyses conducted to determine compliance with 17—
22.104(l)(g) shall be made in accordance with the following
methods further identified at the end of 17—
22.105(1) (h)4.
Trichioroethylene, Tetrachloroethy].ene, Carbon
Tetrachloride, Vinyl Chloride, 1,1,1—Trichioroethane,
and l,2—Dichloroethane — Methods 501.1, 501.2, 501.3,
502.1, 503.1, 601, 602, and 624.
Benzene — Methods 501.1, 501.2, 501.3, 502.1, 503.1,
601, 602, and 624.
Ethylene Dibromide - ‘Analysis of 1,2-Dibromoethane in
Drinking _ Water’, Florida Department of Health and
Rehabilitative Services, Jacksonville Central
Laboratory, 1217 Pearl Street, Post Office Box 210,
Jacksonville, Florida 32231—0042.
17-22.l05(l)(h) - SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS MONITORING
Analyses for synthetic organic contaminants (SOCs) shall be
submitted to the department by January 1, 1985 for all community
systems serving 1,000 or more persons, and by October 1, 1985 for
all community systems serving less than 1,000 persons. Analyses
2
-------
for the following list of SOCs shall be performed every three
years on finished water except when results or conditions warrant
more frequent monitoring as determined by the department. After
the first round of sampling, this list may be modified to include
the addition or deletion of certain SOCs based on their actual or
potential occurrence in Florida waters.
1. PURGEABLES — Methods 501.1, 501.2 50i.3 502.1, 503.1, 601,
602, 603, and 624. Identification of methods is listed at the
end of i7—22.105(1)(h)4.
Acrolein trans—i, 3—Dichloroproperie
Acrylonitrile l.2—Dichloroethene
Benzene 1, 2—Dichloropropane
Bromodichloromethane cis—l, 3—Dichioropropene
Bromoform Ethylbenzene
Bromomethane Methylene chloride
Chlorobenzene 1,1, 2—Trichloroethane
Chioroethane Trichiorofluoromethane
2—Chioroethyivinyl ether To].uene
Chloroform *Xylene
Chioromethane *Styrene
Di bromochioromethane Di chlorobenzene
Dichiorodifluoromethane 1, 2—Dibromo—3—Chloropropane
if l—Dichloroethane 1,1,2, 2—Tetrach].oroethane
1, 1—Dichioroethene
*Can be analyzed using Methods 602 and 624, though not
3
-------
specifically indicated in these methods.
2. PESTICIDES — Methods 509—A, 606, 608, 612, 614, 617, 625,
and BPLC. Identification of methods is listed at the end of 17-
22.105(1) (h)4.
Aldrin Endrin Aldehyde
a-SEC Heptachior
b—SEC Heptachior Epoxide
g-BHC Toxaphene
d-BHC PCB—1016
Chlordane PCB—1221
4,4’—DDD PCB—1232
4,4’—DDE PCB—1242
4,4’—DDT PCB—].248
Dieldrin PCS—1254
Endosulfan I PCB—1260
Endosulfan II Aldicarb (non—extractable)
Endosulfan Sulfate Diazinon
Ethion Malathion
Trithion Parathion
o,p—DDT,DDE and DDD Guthj.on
Tedion Keithane (Dicofal)
3. BASE NEUTRAL EXTRACTABLES — Methods 605, 606, 607, 609, 610,
612, 613, and 625. Identification of methods are listed at the
end of l7—22.105(].)(h)4 .
4
-------
Acenaphthene
Ace naphthy lena
Anthracene
Benzo(a)anthracene
Benzo(b) fluoranthene
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(g,h, i}perylene
Benzidine
Bis( 2—chioroethyl) ether
Sis( 2—chioroethoxy )methane
Bis( 2—athylhexyl)phthalate
Bis( 2—chioroisopropyl) ether
4—Bromophenyl phenyl ether
8 tyl benzyl phthalate
2—Chloronaphthalene
4-Chiorophenyl phenyl ether
Chrysene
Dibenzo(a, h)anthracene
Di-n- butylphthalate
1, 3—Dichlorobenzene
1, 4—Dichlorobenzene
1, 2—Dxchlorobenzene
3, 3—Dichlorobenzidine
Diethy lphthai.ate
Dimethylphthalate
2, 4—Dinitrotoluene
2, 6—Dinitroto] .uene
Dioctylphthalate
1, 2—Diphenyihydrazine
Fluoranthene
F l. ucrene
Hexach loroben 2 ene
flexachiorobutadi ene
8exachloroethane
liexachiorocyclopentadi ene
Indeno(l,2, 3—cd)pyrene
I sophorone
Naphthalene
Ni trobenzene
N—Ni trosodimethy lami ne
N—Ni trosodi—n—propylaini ne
N- Ni trosodipheny lamine
Phenanthrene
Py rene
2,3,7, 8—Tetrachlorodibenzo—
p—dioxin (Dioxin)
1, 2, 4—Trichlorobenzene
4. ACID EXTRACTABLES — Methods 604 and 625. Identification of
methods is listed at the end of 17—22.l05(l)(h)4 .
_______________ 4—Ni trophenol
2—Chiorophenol
5
-------
2, 4—Dich].orophenol Pentachioropheno ].
2, 4—Dimethylphenol Phenol
2, 4—Dini. trophenol 2,4, 6—Trichiorophenol
2—Methyl—4, 6—Dinitrophenol
Methods 501.1 and 501.2 — Analysis of Trihalomethanes in
Drinking Water”, Federal Register, Vol. 44, number 231,
Thursday, November 29, 1979/Rules and Regulations, and
Correction to Federal Register Thursday, November 29,
1979L Part III, Appendix C; “Analysis of Trihalomethane
in Drinking Water”, Federal Register, Vol. 45, Number
49, Tuesday, March 11, 1980.
Method 501.3 — “Measurement of Trihalotnethanes in Drinking Water
with Gas Chromatography and Selected Ion Monitoring”,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio
45268.
Method 502.1 — “The Determination of Halogenated Chemical
Indicators of Industrial Contamination in Water by the
Purge and Trap Method”, Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268.
Method 503.1 — “The Analysis of Aromatic Chemicals in Water by
the Purge and Trap Method”, Environmental Monitoring
and Support Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 .
6
-------
Method
509—A - Standard Methods for the Examination of Water
and Wastewater, 15th Edition, 1980.
601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 61].,
612, 613, 624, and 625 - Methods for Organic Chemical
Analysis of Municipal and Industrial Wastewater,
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
45268.
Methods
Method
614 — The Determination of Organophosphorus Pesticides
in Industrial and Municipal Wastewater, National
Technical Information Services, 5285 Port Royal Road,
Springfield, Virginia 22165 .
Method 617 — The Determination of Organic Pesticides and PCB’s
in Industrial and Municipal Wastewater, National
Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road,
Springfield, Virginia 22165 .
HPLC Method - Journal of Chromatography, Vol. 185, 1979, pp 615—
624. Resolution, Sensitivity, and Selectivity of a
High—Performance Liquid Chromatographic Post—Column
Fluorometric Labeling Technique for Determination of
Carbamate Insecticides, by Richard T. Krause.
NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Al B .shop
t AME OF SUPERVISOR WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Victoria J.
Tschinke l
DATE APPROVED: February 14, 1984
7
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APPENDIX B
GROUNDWATER QUALITY CRITERIA
-------
B—i
WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
PART IV
WATER QUALITY CRITERIA -
GROUND WATER
17—3.401 Ground WaLer: General.
(1) This part contains criteria
which are applicable to ground
water.
(2) In order to determine if
th ground water criteria in this
part are being met, ground water
quality shall be monitored in accor-
dance with this Section and Section
17—4.2 145, F.A.C.
(3) A violation of any ground
water criterion contained in this
part constitutes pollution.
(L i) In addition to any tech-
nology-based effluent Limitations
required by Department rule, the
Department may also specify water
quality—based effluent limitations
to assure that the water quality
criteria will be met.
(5) Notwithstanding the clas-
sification and criteria for ground
water set forth in this part, dis-
charge to ground water shaLl not
impair the designated use of con-
tiguous surface water.
(6) Compliance with ground
water standards shall be determined
by analyses of unfiltered ground
water samples, unless a filtered
sampe is as or more representative
of the particuLar ground water
quality.
(7) For owners of installations
having, filed a complete application
for a Chapter 403 permit covering
water discharges as of January 1,
1983. or discharging pollutants to
ground water as of July 1, 1982,
compLiance with the minimum criteria
set forth in Section 17—3.402,
F.A.C., shall be determined by
analysis of the constituents of the
waste stream of the installation
causing the discharge; provided,
however, that the installation owner
may, at his option, place a monitor-
ing well immediately outside the
site boundary to measure compliance
with the minimum criteria, as long
as the discharge poses no danger
to the public health, safety or
welfare.
Specific Authority: 403.061,
403.062, 403.087, 403.504, 403.704,
403.804, F.S. Law Implemented:
403.021, 403.061. 403.087, 403.088,
403.141, 403.161, 403.182, 403.502,
403.702, 403.708, F.S. History:
Formerly 17—3.071, Amended and
Renumbered 1—1-83.
17—3.402 Minimum Criteria for
Ground Water.
(1) All ground water shall at
all places and at all times be free
from domestic, industrial, agricul-
tural, or other man-induced non—
thermal components of discharges in
concentrations which, alone or in
17—3.20 —— 17—3. 1 402(1)
DER 1983
17—3
2—1—83
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B—2
WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
combination with other substances,
or components of discharges (whether
thermal or non—thermal):
(a) Are harmful to plants, ani-
mals, or organisms that are native
to the soil and responsible for
treatment or stabilization of the
discharge relied upon by Department
permits; or
(b) Are carcinogenic, mutagen—
ic. teratogenic, or toxic to human
beings, unless specific criteria are
established for such components in
17—3.404; or
(c) Are acutely toxic to indig-
enous species of significance to the
aquatic community within surface
waters affected by the ground water
at the point of contact with surface
waters; or
(d) Pose a serious danger to
the public health, safety, or wel-
fare; or
(e) Create or constitute a nui-
sance; or
(f) Impair the reasonable and
beneficial use of adjacent waters.
(2) The minimum criteria shall
not apply to Class G-lV ground
water, unless the Department deter-
mines there is a danger to the
public health, safety or welfare.
(3) The following procedures
shall apply in the implementation of
subsection (1)(b):
(a) The Secretary is authorized
to make determinations, in individ-
ual permitting or enforcement pro-
ceedings, that a particular level
for a substance is a prohibited con-
centration in violation of a mtnimum
criterion pursuant to subsection
(1)(b). This determination may not
be delegated to the districts.
(b) Any notice of proposed
agency action published pursuant to
Section 17—1.62, F.A.C., which con-
tains such a determination shall
include notification of the particu-
lar substance and prohibited concen-
tration level being proposed. The
notice shall be submitted to the
Florida Administrative Weekly at the
time it is sent to the permit appli-
cant for publication.
(c) The Department shall notify
the Commission semiannually of every
application of a determination to a
discharger made by the Secretary
during the preceding six months pur-
suant to subsection (a) for any con-
stituent and concentration level not
adopted by the Commission as a rule.
The notification shall identify the
discharger(s) to whom the applica-
tion of a determination has been
made, the type of industry, the con-
stituent and concentration level set
and a summary of the basis for the
determination. At the written
request of the Commission or any
substantially affected member of the
public, the Department shall, within
120 days of the written request,
submit to the Florida Administrative
Weekly a notice of rulemaking pur-
suant to Section 120.54(1), F.S., on
the determination for the particular
constituent and concentration level
that is the subject of a notifica-
tion in the preceding sentence.
(d) The application of the
determination under paragraph (a) to
the perniittee or to other affected
dischargers shall he subject to:
1. Modification where necessary
to conform to any final rulemaking
action of the Commission under sub—
section (c); or
2. Withdrawal if the Commission
elects not to adopt a corresponding
rule after initiation of rulemaking
for the constituent under subsection
(c).
(e) The notice procedures con-
tained in subsection (3) shall not
DE R 1983
17—3
2—1—83
17—3.402(1) —— 17—3.402(3)(e)
-------
B-3
DER1983 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
act as a stay of Department enforce—
ment proceedings.
(f) Once a particular standard
for a criterion is established by
the Commission, it shall be listed
in subsection (g) below.
(g) Reserved.
Specific Authority: ‘ 103.061,
403.062, 403.087, 403.504, 1403.704,
403.804, F.S. Law Implemented:
403.021, 403.061, 403.087, 403.088,
(2) It shall be the Department
policy to afford the highest protec-
tion to single source aquifers.
Upon petition by an affected party
as provided in subsection (6), the
Commission may reclassify aquifers
or portions of aquifers as Class G—I
ground water.
(3) The specific water quality
criteria corresponding to each
ground water classification are
listed in Sections 17—3.14014 —
17—3.406, F.A.C.
(4) Ground water quality clas’—
sifications are arranged in order of
403.141, 403.161, ‘403.182, ‘403.502,
403.702, 403.708, F.S. History:
Formerly 17—3.051, Amended and
Renumbered 1-1-83.
17—3.403 ClassificatIon of
Ground Water, Usage, Reclassi-
fication.
(1) All ground water of the
State is classified according to
designated uses as follows:
the degree of protection required,
with Class C-I ground water having
generally the most stringent water
quality criteria and Class G—lV the
least.
(5) Reclassification of ground
water as provided in subsection (1)
above shall be accomplished in the
following manner:
(a) Any substantially affected
person or a water management dis-
trict may seek reclassification of
any ground water of the State by
filing a petition with the Secretary
in the form required by Section
17—3
CLASS G-l
CLASS C-Il
CLASS C-Ill
CLASS G-IV
Potable water use, ground water in single
source aquifers which has a total dissolved
solids content of less than 3,000 mg/I.
Potable water use, ground water in aquifers
which has a total dissolved solids content
of less than 10,000 mg/I, unless otherwise
classified by the Commission.
Non-potable water use, ground water in uncon—
fined aquifers which has a total dissolved
solids content of 10,000 mg/I or greater, or
which has total dissolved solids of 3,000—
10,000 mg/I and either has been reclassified
by the Commission as having no reasonable
potential as a future source of drinking
water, or has been designated by the Depart-
ment as an exempted aquifer pursuant to
Section 17—28.13(3), F.A.C.
Non—potable water use, ground water in con-
fined aquifers which has a total dissolved
solids content of 10,000 mg/I or greater.
2—1—83
17—3.402(3)(e) —— 17—3.403(5)(a)
-------
B -4
DER1983 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
17—1.2Z4, F.A .C. In addition, the
Department, on its own initiative or
at the direction of the Commission,
may seek reclassification by initi-
ating rulemaking pursuant to Section
17—1.06, F.A.C.
(b) A petition for reclassifi-
cation shall contain the information
necessary to support the affirmative
findings required in this section.
(c) All reclassifications of
ground water of the State shall be
adopted after public notice, written
notification to local governments
whose jurisdiction includes any por-
tion of the ground water proposed to
be reclassified, and public hearing
only upon an affirmative finding by
the Commission that:
1. The proposed reclassifica-
tion will establish the present and
future most beneficial use of the
ground water; and
2. Such a reclassification is
clearly in the public interest.
Cd) Reclassification of ground
water of the State which establishes
more stringent, or less stringent,
criteria than presently established
by this Chapter shall be adopted
upon additional affirmative finding
by the Commission that the proposed
designated use is attainable, upon
consideration of environmental,
water quality, technological, so-
cial, economic, and institutional
factors.
(6) In addition to the proce-
dures in subsection (5) above, the
following procedure shall be used to
designate single source aquifers:
(a) Rulemaking procedures pur-
suant to Chapter 17—1, F.A.C., shall
be followed;
(b) At least one fact—finding
workshop shall be held in the af-
fected area;
(c) All local county or muni-
cipal governments, water management
districts, and state legislators
whose districts or jurisdictions
include all or part of a proposed
single source aquifer shall he noti-
fied in writing by the Secretary at
least 60 days prior to the workshop;
(d) A prominent public notice
shall be placed in a newspaper, or
newspapers if a large area is to he
designated, of general circulation
in the area of the proposed single
source - aquifer at least 60 days
prior to the workshop;
Ce) The Commission may reclas-
sify an aquifer or portion of an
aquifer as a single source aquifer
within specified boundaries upon the
affirmative finding that:
1. The aquifer or portion of
the aquifer is the only reasonably
available source of potable water to
a significant segment of the popula-
tion; and
2. The designated use is at-
tainable, upon consideration of
environmental, technological, water
quality, institutional, and social
and economic factors.
(1) When making the finding
required by subparagraph Ce), the
Commission must specifically con-
sider, upon presentation of any
competent evidence at the hearing,
the following:
1. Other sources of potable
water which could be used and the
costs of developing these sources;
and
2. The long term adequacy of
the ground water aquifer to supply
expected future demands if other
sources are not developed; and
3. Potential adverse effects
from continued consumption of water
from the aquifer if G—l classifica-
tion does not occur; and
L . Potential adverse impacts on
existing and potential discharges to
the affected ground water if G—l
17-3
2—1—83
17—3. 1 403(5)(a) —— 17—3.403(6)(f)14.
-------
B— 5
DER1983 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
cIassification occurs.
Specific Authority: 403.061,
403.062, 403.087, 403.504, 403.704.
403.804, F.S. Law Implemented:
403.021, 403.061. 403.087, 403.083,
403.141, ‘403.161, 403.182, 403.502,
403.504, 403.702, 403.708, F.S.
History: Formerly 28—5.06, 17—3.06,
17—3.081, Amended and Renumbered
1—1 —83.
17—3.404 Standards for Class
G-l and Class G—ll Ground Water.
(1) In addition to the minimum
criteria provided in Section
17—3.402, F.A.C., waters classified
as Class G—I and Class G-Il ground
water shall meet the following stan-
dards:
(a) The primary and secondary
drinking water quality standards for
public water systems established
pursuant to the Florida Safe Drink-
ing Water Act, which are listed in
Section 17—22.104, F.A.C., except as
provided in Section 17—4.245(8),
F.A.C.
(b) The following maximum con-
taminant levels: (Reserved).
(2) If the concentration for
any constituent listed in (1) In the
natural unaffected background qual-
ity of the ground water is greater
than the stated maximum, or in the
case of pH is also less than the
minimum, the representative back-
ground value shall be the prevailing
standard for Class G—l and Class
C-Il ground water.
(3) These standards shall not
apply within a permitted zone of
discharge as provided in Section
17—4.245, F.A.C. The minimum cri—
teria specified in 17—3.402 shall
apply within the zone of discharge.
Specific Authority: 403.061,
403.062, ‘403.087, ‘403.504, 403.704,
403.804, F.S. Law Implemented:
403.021, 403.061, 403.087, 403.088,
403.141, 403.161, 403.182, 403.502,
‘403.702, 403.708, F.S. History:
Formerly 17—3.101, Amended and
Renumbered 1-1-83.
17—3.405 Standards for Class
G—llI •Ground Water. The criteria
established in Section 17—3.402,
F.A.C., shall apply to all Class
C-Ill ground water.
Specific Authority: 403.061,
403.062, 403.087, 403.504, 403.704,
403.804, F.S. Law Implemented:
403.021, 403.061, 403.087, 403.088,
1403.141, 403.161, 403.182, ‘403.502,
403.702, 403.708, F.S. History:
Formerly 17-3.151, Amended and
Renumbered 1-1—83.
17—3.406 Standards for Class
G—IV Ground Water. The Department
shall specify applicable standards
on a case-by—case basis for dis-
charges to Class G—IV ground water.
The minimum criteria in Section
17—3.402 will not apply unless the
Department determines there is dan-
ger to the public health, safety or
welfare.
Specific Authority: 403.061,
403.062, 403.087, 403.5014, 403.704,
403.804, F.S. Law Implemented:
403.021, ‘403.061, 403.087, 403.088,
403.141, 403.161, 403.182, 403.502,
403.702, 403.708, F.S. History:
Formerly 17—3.151, Amended and
Renumbered 1—1—83.
17—3
2—1—83
17—3.403(6)(f) ’i. —— 17—3.406(History)
-------
Biochcnucal onygon demand
(rngll)
p i t
) bating wilds. settleable
solids. sbud&0 di posits
Oil arid grease (mg I)
Odor.peniiuring subst.an. c i
Temporisture
Sourses is’rniItled prr.r
‘.0 July 1. 1072
Sources periiiittesl ntter
July 1. 1V72
Turbidity
°.mnronua (inglil
hlorsdes ( m e ’ I)
brornlom (mit/I) tol .iJ
oppir (mg/ I)
( )aOIdli (mg/I)
tistergentu (mg/I)
(4) \VATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR IADE COUNTY
Fresh I (aLer Tidal So1 14 at.,
(w ise, coetuin,isg tes s (looter ceritaising more
thais 51 /0 pp,ii eklor.ifes) LAce £00 ppm r.Iibomdas)
S ppm during at laut 10 boon per 21 hour period, suer
less than 4 ppm, unless acceptable data irWucste that tho
natural barle ruisn4 dissolved oxygen a Iowsr tbac the
values established hereIn.
Shall not exceed a value which would nu a duaaolved
ui)geIt to be depreued below value., (sated under diasolveil
ioygcn and in eta case sl.all be great enough to pruduoe
nuisance condiUuns.
60 — 4.5 1 6Ci. S5t
Non. attnbut.sbie to sow. Non. attrl.utabl. to saw.
age, industrial wastes or ago. industrial iesstes. or
other WelleS other wastes
lbs is:
Nun. ottrsbotablt . to sew. e. induitnil atei or other
w.i.crs Threshold odor number rust tu rxeeed ‘I at GOT
is I doily average
Shall cause no mi ironmental damage
3 above ambient (June—Septemb. I 2
above aoubt nt (October—
( 5y) 4. •bovt ambient.
05. except Cf tar heavy rabets
cpp uitssN &ppma sN
.05 05
04 04
None net.ect ble Non. detectable
06 lruufficient to cauie
teaming
I porn so N
6 1) 0 1
06
04
1.une detectable
06
B-6
1/,
C
V
z
a CAe,eieol, Pkysiicl or
Biological Ckcractsrotia
oxygen (urg’l)
b 0— .d 5’
1 51
In
C
Cite ,ricoi. Plip.ic l or
Charecierwtse
Fluoride (mg/I)
::Laad (mg/I)
•oPhccol (org/I)
Zinc (mg/I)
Sot/ides (mgi)
Colilorm organtarns
(MPN/I0O ml)
Mercury
Iron
Arsenic
Specific conductance
Dissolved solids
Jlad(oactlve substances
.1
0th., compounds
(water CiusLaseiip teas
t.hue 500 ppm ehterrude,)
(x aecr costOiui.p mare
lhax $00 ppm ch,oridea)
Geossidwat,r
I4uV
lOsoF
09&
035
1.4 5.s?
0001
O0 fJ
005
tO
10
0001
0.2
tO
p.
to
C,
C,
C
I- i
0
z
-1
x
0
I-
3ynergisttc action
1.0004 10004 60
Noes detact.abl. 1 4 one detectable Non. detectable
03mg/I 0 1mg/I 03mg/I
1/06mg/i 005 mg/I 005 nigh
501/ micrumhcis per ni (fresh water) 1.vt iirore than 1IttJ above bsckgroutirl iii
watsr, uthvr than fresh
Nut to ,zcwed 500 mgul (or monthly sieroge or 1000 erg/i at any Ur is
Cress beta activity (in known absenri. of strontIum Pt) arid alpha emItters), nut to
exceed 1000 Autcru-mirrlicurii s at icy Owe
Uther toxic or undesirable rerupound, than thou IsiLed above may occur in trudi’ ,lu.al
waste str*arns. Limits fur these componenl.a map be specified by the pollution r.ar lr,.il
officer based on the latest sclcn’ific knowbodtce •unrcrulng tuxicity and adverie if ti .ti
of the intended water use.
Vu hcnev. scientific evidence Indicates that a eonibmstion of pollutant. exert a greater
effect than lb. lndiitdu.sl pollutsula, the pollution control officer may. on thc basis
of those futdisgs. lover th. herein establi.ahrj limits to the level necessar 10 pci ieiil
dama 1 c to th, waters of the county.
I Shull not cause the pH or tb, receiving watrso U vary more then 10 unIt When (I. c*turs! background p11
lira outside (hr limits usleblished. the ont.tadur ltoo Of a waste ihail not csspLaco the pH of the receiving wuts rs
more than US pH units from these stsndaruii.
0 Shall not be visible, defined as Irndescenov. or rosa. taste or odin
• Waste shall not Increase natural background more l .a 10 pensvnL
4 Sjsxlu,uai MPH/ZOO ml In a surface water used as a deurleurig water supply shall be 104. ,
$ MaxImum MPN/l00 nil in a tIdal water (torn which shellfish are harvested ‘or human oonsumptien shsll be 0
-------
(28) Solids, Floating B-7
(Suspended or
Settleabie Not attributable to sewage, industrial or
other wastes
(29) T nperature Not to be above 90 Degrees Fah.
(30) Turbidity Not to exceed 10 Jackson Units
(31) 2inc Not to exceed 0.03 mg/i
(32) Pesticides and
Herbicides
1) Aldrin/Dieldrin Not to exceed 0.003 ugh Total
2) Ch.lordane Not to exceed 0.01 eg/l
3) DDT Not to exceed 0.001 ugh
‘4) Deneton Not to exceed 0.1 ugh
5) Endosulfan Not to exceed 0.003 ugh
6) Endriri Not to exceed 0.0014 ugh
7) Guthion Not to exceed 0.01 ugh
8) Heptachior Not to exceed 0.001 ugh
9) Lindane Not to exceed 0.01 ug/1
10) Malathion Nob to exceed 0.1 ug/l
11) Methoxythlor Not to exceed 0.03 ugh
12) Mirex Not to exceed 0.001 ugh
13) Parathion Not to exceed 0.04 ugh
114) Silvex (2—14—5 TP) Not to exceed 1.0 ugh
15) 2—14 D Not to exceed 1.0 ugh
16) Toxaphene Not to exceed 0.005 ug/l
Specific Auth., Spec. Act 65—1338 Laws of Fla. 1965, as amended. Cbarter
Ref. Sec. 8.17, 19714. History, New Revision 6112/80 (Reg. 80—1).
Section 27—5.073 STANDARDS FOR GROUND WATERS:
Item Water Quality Re ujr enb
(1) Arsenic Not to exceed 0.050 mg/i
(2) BOD5 Not to exceed 5.0 mg/i
(3) Cadmiun Not to exceed 0.01 mg/l
(4) Chlorinated Hydro-
carbons (Not other-
wise identified by
name) Not to exceed 0.01 mg/i
(5) Chromiun (Total) Not to exceed 0.05 mg/i
(6) COD Not to exceed 10 mg/i
(7) Color No unnatural ciscoloration shall be apparant.
except for that resulting from scientific
investigation or environmental monitoring.
(8.1) Coliform (Fecal) a) not to exceed 200 per 100 ml for monthly
average.
b) Not to exceed ‘400 per 100 ml for 10O of
samples.
c) Not to exceed 800 per 100 ml in any sample.
(8.2) Coliform (Total) Not to exceed 1000/100 ml
(9) Copper Not to exceed 1.0 mg/i
(10) Cyanide Not to exceed 0.2 mg/i
(11) Detergent (as MBAS) Not to exceed 0.5 mg/i
(12) Lead Not to exceed 0.05 mg/i
(13) Mercury Not to exceed 0.G02 ugh
(114) Nickel Not to exceed 0.1 mg/i
-------
(15) Nitrogen (Nitrate
Nitrogen As N)
(16) Odors
(17) Oil and Grease
(18)
(19) pH
(20) Polychiorinated
Biphenyis (PCB’s)
(21) Phenolic Compounds
(22) Phosphates (Total
as F)
(23) Radioactivity
Seleniun
Silver
Solids (Floating
(Suspended or
Settleable
(27) Temperature
(28) Turbidity
(29) Zinc
(30) Pesticides and
Herbicides
1) A].driri/Dieldriri
2) Chiordane
3) DDT
14) Demeton
5) Endosulfan
6) Endrin
7) Guthion
8) Heptachior
9) Lindane
10) Malathion
11) Methoxychior
12) Mirex
13) Parathion
114) Silvex (2—’4—5
15) 2 14 D
16) Toxaphene
Specific Auth., Spec.
Ref. Sec. 8.17, 1974.
11/2/81 (81—8).
Not to exceed 10.0 mg/i
None shall be cetectable due to sewage or
industrial waste
Dissolved or anulsified oil or grease shall
not exceed 10.0 ppm. No undissolved or
visible oil as iridescense shall be present
Not to exceed 1/per gallon.
Not less than 6.5 nor more than 8.5 units
Total not to eAceed 0.001 u /l
Total not to exceed 0.001 mg/i
Not to exceed 0.01 mg/i
Gross Beta not to exceed 1000 pc/i; Radit. n 226
not to exceed 3 pc/i, Stronti ii 90 not to
exceed 10 pc/i
Not to exceed 0.01
Not to exceed 0. 05
mg/i
mg/i
None attributable to sewage, industrial
other wastes
Not to be above 90 degrees Fah.
Not to exceed 10 Jackson Units
Not to exceed 5.0 mg/i
Not to exceed 1.0 ugh Total
Not to exceed 0.3 ug/l
Not to exceed ‘4.0 ug/l
Not to exceed 0.1 ugh
Not to exceed 0.1 u /l
Not to exceed 0.02 ug/l
flat to exceed 0.1 u /l
Not to exceed 1.0 ug/l
Not to exceed ‘4.0 ugh
Not to exceed 0.1 ugh
Not to exceed 3.0 ugh
Not to exceed 0.01 ugh
Not to exceed 1.0 ug/l
TP) Not to exceed 1.0 ugh
Not to exceed 1.0 ugh
Not. to exceed 0.005 ug/l
Act 65—1338 Laws of Fla. 1965,
History, New Revision 6/12/80
B -8
?athogens
(2’4)
(25)
(26)
or
as amended. Charter
(Reg. 80—1) .Ainended
------- |