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EPA

Zephyrhills joins water contamination lawsuit

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The City of Zephyrhills — also known as “The City of Pure Water” — is joining a massive federal lawsuit regarding contaminated water.

The municipality is set to become a plaintiff in a multi-district litigation case filed against various companies that manufactured firefighting foams — Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) — containing a series of man-made chemicals found to contaminate groundwater, wastewater and water wells.

Zephyrhills will join more than 100 other cities and water treatment facilities across the country in a federal lawsuit that is going after various companies that manufactured firefighting foam containing chemicals found to contaminate water wells. (File)

The chemicals in question are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), compounds historically used in carpets, clothing, food packaging and a number of industrial processes. The chemicals have been linked to human health effects, such as low infant birth weights, immune system suppression, thyroid hormone disruption and cancer, according to health organizations, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Zephyrhills City Council unanimously voted on May 11 to enter negotiations for representation with Cossich, Summich, Parsiola and Taylor LLC., a New Orleans-based litigation firm. Local co-counsel will include Tampa-based firms Hobby & Hobby P.A. and Young & Partners LLP. The action came during a virtual council meeting.

Zephyrhills will join more than 100 other cities and water treatment facilities across the country in the lawsuit. Other plaintiffs are as far away as California and North Dakota, and within Florida, including Pensacola and Lauderhill.

The New Orleans firm is known for its work in securing a $7.8 billion settlement for plaintiffs in the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill case back in 2010. The firm told city leaders it will front the cost of litigation and expert work on a contingency, then would accept a settlement fee.

Officials say high levels of PFOA/PFOS have been discovered in Water Well No. 1 utilized by the city’s downtown fire station for training purposes, dating as far back as 2014.

Samples taken from the well in 2014 showed PFOA/PFOS levels of 160 parts per trillion in water, lower than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) levels of acceptability of 200 parts per trillion at the time, officials say.

However, in 2016 the EPA established new health advisory levels of PFOA/PFOS at just 70 parts per trillion. Because of that, the well was subsequently taken offline and was no longer in service when follow-up tests measured 120 parts per trillion of PFOA/PFOS, officials say.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe said that staff is working with environmental engineering group Jones Edmunds on monitoring wells and “to try to delineate contamination plume.”

Poe expects the EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection to make requirements for PFOA/PFOS remediation and removal, which he said “will have a very large price tag attached to it.”

Clarke Hobby of Hobby & Hobby P.A., will serve as co-counsel for the City of Zephyrhills, who will be a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against companies and manufacturers that used a series of man-made chemicals in firefighting foam found to contaminate water wells. (File)

City attorney Matt Maggard concurred with the city manager’s assessment. He emphasized the need to partner with the multiple litigation firms to seek damages from companies that used PFOS/PFAS chemicals in AFFF production.

Maggard put it like this: “Cleanup is coming, and it’s going to be very, very expensive, and I think we should protect the city and seek compensation from these companies. It’s really negligent what they did, in my opinion, as far as knowing the dangers of these chemicals and letting them go out into the public the way they did.”

Attorney Clarke Hobby, a partner in Hobby & Hobby P.A., originally brought the matter to the city’s attention.

A Dade City native who normally deals in real estate and land use matters, Hobby said he felt a calling to be involved and assist the municipality with the developing case.

The attorney said he believes the EPA will even further lower the levels of acceptability for PFOS/PFOA in water sources because “they’re finding that this stuff is not water soluble and it just doesn’t go away and it is a serious threat to water quality.”

Said Hobby, “I just don’t want Zephyrhills to get on the hook for what a multi-, multi-billion company knew about 40 years ago and continued to put it on the market, and leave us holding the bag.”

He added: “The liability for creating this chemical contamination should lie with the manufacturers who knew about this for a long time and allowed the contamination to continue over a longer period of time.”

Upon hearing comments from Hobby, as well as representatives from Cossich, Summich, Parsiola and Taylor LLC, and city administration, the council agreed it was important to move forward in the legal process.

“We definitely have to act on this,” said Council president Ken Burgess.

Councilman Charles Proctor added, “It sounds to me like we are going to deal with this, probably sooner rather than later, so if we’re going to hire a group of attorneys, we would want to hire a (law firm) that’s familiar with this sort of litigation.”

Published May 27, 2020

Keep Your Family Healthy With A Free Air Duct Inspection

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CJ White has two very good reasons to keep his home’s air duct system free of dust and dander – 3-year-old Olivia and 6-month-old Landon.

“Nothing is more important than the health of my children, and I know how important indoor air quality is to their well-being,” said White, the children’s father.

White and his wife, Natalie, understand why they need to keep their air ducts clean, because the family owns the Stanley Steemer franchise on State Road 54 in Lutz.

Stanley Steemer in Lutz has invested in a $150,000 Caddy Vac vacuum truck for air duct cleaning, shown here in front of the business’ State Road 54 location.

“We want people to know that harmful mold growth can be prevented with regular inspections and cleaning of their air ducts,” said White. “To prevent mold from growing, the best action is to be proactive – to have your air ducts inspected before dust accumulates to a level that can support mold growth.”

White explains that mold needs two things to grow — moisture and food.

“In Florida, we have plenty of moisture because of our humidity. And, because so many homes have hard surfaces like tile and wood flooring, there is also plenty of dust in the air,” said White. “Dust and other organic materials are gourmet food sources for mold. When allowed to accumulate in your air ducts, you can be creating a breeding ground for mold growth,” said White.

The National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) identifies the following symptoms of mold growth: runny and stuffy noses, itchy throat and ears, hives, swollen and itchy eyes, coughing and wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, some people are more sensitive than others, especially young children.

“If your air ducts have mold spores, every time someone turns on their air conditioner, these spores are spread throughout your home and recirculated multiple times a day,” said White.

NADCA, which Stanley Steemer is a Certified Firm of, recommends that homes be inspected every two years by one of its certified technicians. If excessive dust is found, it recommends a powerful vacuum removal of this debris to prevent mold from growing.

“This is why our company does not charge to do air duct home inspections —we want families to be proactive, and not wait to have their ducts inspected before it is too late, and the mold cannot be safely removed,” said White.

Powerful airflow safely removes dust and debris.

Stanley Steemer’s air duct inspectors are NADCA certified, which means they work for a licensed contractor, have extensive field experience and industry-specific knowledge of approved procedures to safely clean air ducts.

Heading up the company’s air duct division is Earl Thompson, who has worked for the White family for 17 years. Thompson and his team typically conduct two air duct cleanings and up to seven inspections daily in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

“Earl is very experienced, and regularly trains his cleaning technicians on the proper use of our vacuum truck and other equipment, so that all dislodged debris is properly removed from the home,” said White.

White’s company has invested in a powerful Caddy Vac vacuum truck for its air duct cleaning division.

“Our truck is huge — the size of a fire truck — and has an airflow of 12,500 cubic feet per minute,” said White, who adds that his company’s investment in air duct removal is over $150,000. “There’s no comparison between the effectiveness of our powerful vacuum truck, compared to much smaller, Rotobrush systems used by other air duct companies. These units only provide around 400 cubic feet per minute of suction.”

Before sending its air duct cleaning truck out, White’s technicians inspect a home to determine the necessity and scope of a cleaning.

“About half the homes we inspect do not warrant a cleaning, and there is no charge for the inspection,” said White. “In homes where air ducts need to be cleaned, we give homeowners a written estimate of the cost to clean their air ducts, and schedule the truck for another day.”

Most homes today use fiberglass duct board, which is an absorbent material. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of chemical usage in cleaning air ducts, and states there is currently no biocides, sanitizers or disinfectants that are legally allowed to be sprayed on this form of ductwork.

“If a company advertises that they can remove mold by “fogging” or “sanitizing,” they would be in violation of federal law by doing so and, depending on what they’re spraying, it can be potentially harmful to the inhabitants of the home.”

People often wait until it’s too late to clean their duct system, White said. If an inspector finds active mold growth on fiberglass ductwork NADCA recommends the removal and replacement of that ductwork.

“Mold cannot be safely cleaned from duct board and replacement can be very costly, often costing between $8,000 and $10,000. This is why being proactive and maintaining clean ductwork is so important. ” White said.

Cleaning your air ducts may not seem as important as having your carpet cleaned, but it is, according to White.

“It’s what you breathe – the air that you’re A/C system is pumping into your home all day long, The EPA estimates the average person spends upwards of 90% of their day indoors,” said White. “For the sake of your family’s health, please give us a call for our free home air duct inspection.”

To schedule your free home inspection, call (813) 996-2436.

Published July 24, 2019

Pointers for easy pest control in your garden

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Spring gardening is upon us, a time when many Florida gardeners plant vegetables, trees and landscape shrubs. If we have turf, we pay attention to bare spots, patches and insects.

As your plants and turf grow, be on the lookout for pests and problems. Try to notice issues early and get help from your local Extension office, if needed.

Consider using less toxic pest control methods and products around edible crops. (Nicole Pinson)

Some of the easiest and least expensive strategies for mitigating pest and disease problems include:
• Choose the right plant for the right place

  • Select plants for site conditions and pest resistance
  • Plant a diverse garden
  • Use mulch
  • Pull weeds
  • Sanitize tools, when needed
  • Encourage natural enemies (good bugs that prey on pest bugs)

Of course, there are recommendations for pest and weed control, both online and through word-of-mouth.

Some are anecdotal; others are research-based.

Research-based recommendations have been tested in Florida and these recommendations promote using products according to the label. For example, although moth balls are a registered pesticide with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), their use in the landscape to control pests and nuisance wildlife is prohibited. It is against the law when moth balls are used in this way.

When using chemical products, start with the least toxic methods. These products generally cause less harm to non-target insects and animals, and some may be used in organic gardening.

These are some least toxic products and the pests they control:

  • Neem oil for soft-bodied insects, such as aphids, scales and whiteflies, cucumber beetles, caterpillars and spider mites
  • Neem extracts with azadirachtin for caterpillars, flea beetles, weevils, aphids and leafhoppers
  • Spinosad for fire ants, thrips, sawflies, caterpillars (such as armyworms, bean leafroller, cabbage looper, corn earworm/fruitworm, diamondback moth and pickleworm), flies, beetles, spider mites and thrips
  • Bt-k (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) for caterpillars, such as armyworms, bean leafroller, cabbage looper, corn earworm/fruitworm, fall webworm, loopers, bagworms, hornworms and squash vine borer
  • Bt (other Bacillus thuringiensis varieties) for fly larvae (mosquitoes, fungus gnats), wax moth larvae and some beetles
  • Horticultural oil (petroleum-based) for soft-bodied insects and mites, including scales, aphids, spider mites, mealybugs and whiteflies
  • Insecticidal soap (potassium salts of fatty acid) for soft-bodied insects and mites, including soft scales, aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies
  • Diatomaceous earth (silica shells of diatoms) for ants, fleas, bed bugs, cockroaches, millipedes, sowbugs, and other small, soft-bodied insects

Plant a diverse garden to control pests and disease. Take a proactive, less toxic pest control approach.

Spring is a great time to be on the lookout for pests and problems.

If you are looking for where to purchase beneficial organisms, also known as “natural enemies,” check this publication: “Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial Natural Enemies and Biopesticides in North America,” by Lynn M. LeBeck and Norman C. Leppla. Specifically, check Tables 1 and 2, for suppliers.

Consider adding plants that attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Some of these plants also have extrafloral nectaries, which are nectar-producing glands found in some plant families, that are separate from the flower. Passionvines are one type of plant with these extrafloral nectaries.

To find out more, check out these IFAS publications: “Natural Products for Managing Landscape and Garden Pests in Florida,” and “Organic Vegetable Gardening in Florida.”

For additional information, contact or (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.

Nicole Pinson is the Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County.

Published June 05, 2019