EPA tightens health advisory, all of water district’s wells out of compliance

The Environmental Protection Agency made its health advisory more stringent and as a result Security Water District’s wells are out of compliance.

Security-Widefield and Fountain water districts found out in January there were high levels of chemicals found in Teflon and Scotchgard in their water. Since then, the districts have been working to resolve the issue by blending the water to reduce exposure to customers.

However, recently, the EPA made the health advisory more stringent.

“None of our wells, none of the source water from our wells, complies with the new health advisory,” Roy Heald, Security Water District manager.

Heald said the district continues to work on addressing the problem, but said it will take time. It is also expensive and costly to the districts. Heald said customers’ rates will go up in the coming years to accommodate the added costs.

Security Water District tries to minimize customers’ exposure as much as possible but said it’s not a guarantee when demand is high.

“We can’t guarantee that happens in all cases,” said Heald. “At times they may be.”

Some reports say the contaminates are at dangerous levels. KRDO NewsChannel 13 asked Heald if he thinks the levels are dangerous.

“I’m not going to go down that line with you,” said Heald. “People should ask their doctors health-related questions. You should talk to scientists or have people talk to their medical doctors about what’s dangerous. What we are doing is attempting to follow an EPA health advisory.”

When asked if the water is safe for customers, Heald said people should consult their doctors.

Customers may receive water at some time that exceeds the health advisory, according to Heald. However, the water district’s goal is to not exceed the health advisory all the time.

“That’s the best we can do right now,” said Heald.