1,4-Dioxane is a synthetic industrial chemical used as a solvent stabilizer and is found at many sites contaminated with certain chlorinated solvents. 1,4-dioxane  dissolves easily in water and has been found in groundwater throughout the United States. Its use has been discontinued. 1,4-Dioxane was used and discharged at the former Siemens site in Lake Mary.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) periodically requires all water providers to sample a new list of contaminants that historically have not been regulated. The results of these tests are used by the EPA to consider regulations for the future.  Like many utility providers in the area, the City of Sanford detected 1,4-dioxane in our groundwater when the EPA first directed utilities to sample for 1,4-dioxane. You may have seen the results of this Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule testing, including 1,4-dioxane, in the City’s annual water quality report in 2016.  While 1,4-dioxane remains unregulated, the Florida Department of Health established a health advisory limit maximum of 0.35 ug/L (micrograms per liter). To help visualize one ug/L, an equivalent measurement is 1 part per billion, similar to one drop of ink in a large tanker truck, or 1 second in 32 years.

Since becoming aware of the health advisory limit for 1,4-dioxane in 2016, the City has added this chemical to the scheduled sampling for our wells and treated drinking water.  We also immediately reduced the use of groundwater wells that are most affected by this chemical. With these actions, we have maintained drinking water quality from 2016 to today with levels of 1,4-dioxane below the health advisory limit, averaging less than 0.20 ug/L (micrograms per liter). In 2016 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) advised the City of Sanford that it would find the source of the contamination. The City has been working with FDEP since then to determine the source. The City is encouraging the FDEP to expand its efforts and identify the source and responsible party to safeguard our water supply and minimize the impact to the City’s ratepayers.

Understandably this is the most common and important question asked of any water supplier, and the answer is YES! The City of Sanford has great water quality through the efforts of our water plant operators and engineers who sample the water regularly for all manner of natural and man-made components.  While no drinking water (bottled or tap) is 100% pure, City of Sanford customers receive an annual water quality report that shows all regulated contaminants have been tested and are below drinking water standards set by the EPA and FDEP.