DOWNTOWN TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — On Wednesday, Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor and City of Tallahassee Commissioner Jeremy Matlow sent a letter to state representatives and agencies including Rep. Jason Shof, Rep. Gallop Franklin, Rep. Allison Tant, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Florida Department Of Health.
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Local leaders send letter to State officials to further investigate “forever chemicals” in Woodville water
The letter reads in part that they’re looking to “request further review on the presence of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water in the south of Leon County, particularly in an area called Woodville.”
That’s following data distributed to the Commissioners by Dr. Ron Saff and Professor Donald Axelrad that said about 25% of Woodville residents are dealing with elevated levels of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” in their drinking water.
The letter comes after scientists recently warned the community about the presence of PFAS in water, citing data from investigations they’ve carried out that they say show elevated levels of PFAS in well water in Woodville.
In the letter, they’re asking for assistance with the following:
Notifying the 1,000+ private well owners of PFASTesting of the private wells Providing water filters to affected residents, and Identifying primary sources of contamination.”
One of those 1,000+ private well owners include neighbors include Craig Lott. The water coming out of the tap at Lott’s house requires filtration to get rid of PFAS.
Lott was first alerted to the issue by Dr. Ron Saff, a local allergist, who tested his well water when his family moved in a couple of years ago.
“Probably three or four months after we moved in when Dr. Saff and his team came out and asked to test the water. And after he got his results back, that’s when we realized it’s pretty contaminated,” Lott said.
Exposure to forever chemicals can lead to various health concerns like increased risks of cancers, developmental issues in children, and reproductive effects, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
“Yeah, well, you know, you got to do what’s right. And I certainly don’t want my grandkids drinking it,” Lott said. “From what I’ve been told, it’s pretty harmful to your health.”
ABC 27’s Maya Sargent spoke with Assistant Professor Jeffrey Farner at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, who explained why these chemicals are so hard to break down.
“They stick to soil really well, they stick to surfaces. When they get into the body, they’re going to want to partition into the fat or into things like this, and so that is kind of why they move into that region,” Farner said.
Farner said a big focus in research right now is the impact of PFAS, as they are still relatively new in comparison to things like pesticides.
“It’s very hard to generalize and to pull out numbers, and that’s why, right, that’s what the government is doing with the EPA, trying to establish regulations. That’s literally what they’re trying to do to say, like, we have all of these concerns, how can we put a number on this to say we recommend this,” Farner said.
The County and City have confirmed efforts to test water and distribute resources to help neighbors dealing with PFAS.
Experts recommend using a filter if you are concerned about PFAS in your water. Leon County also recommends reaching out to the county’s health department if you are looking to get your water tested. You can reach them by calling 850-895-8360.
ABC 27 has reached out to the lawmakers and agencies included in the letter for comment on this issue. We will update this article as we receive any comments.
Representative Gallop Franklin (D-Tallahassee) sent us this statement: “There is no higher priority than the health of our constituents, said Representative Franklin. “Investigating these PFAS levels and identifying the source of contamination is not merely a request; it is a debt we owe to the residents who rely on these private wells. I will work directly with the Department of Environmental Protection to ensure they are fully aware of the specific conditions in Woodville and actively pursue every available option to address this contamination.”
Representative Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe) said he would have more once he gets data and information verified, adding “water quality is my number one objective over the last several years and will continue to be.”
A member of Representative Allison Tant’s (D-Monticello) team said the lawmaker is out of office but will provide an update on her return.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor
Letter regarding PFAS levels
Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor
Letter regarding PFAS levels
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