Stuart city water cleanup funding request filed in Florida Legislature

The state could cover some of the costs to clean up chemicals from Stuart's water supply. 

Rep.Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, filed an appropriation request in the House Thursday that would cover $500,000 of the city's costs this year to install a perfluorinated chemical treatment system at the city's Water Treatment Facility to remove chemicals once used in fire-extinguishing foam. 

More: Stuart will spend $2 million for new system

The chemicals, known as PFOA and PFOS, were found in the city's water supply in 2015, city spokesman Ben Hogarth told TCPalm earlier this week. The city closed and replaced three of its 24 wells that were contaminating the water supply.

The city’s water PFC contamination has remained below federal guidelines of 70 parts per trillion since 2016. 

Firefighters nationwide used to train using extinguishing foam that contained PFCs, but the foam's formula was changed in 2002. In 2015, it was classified as a contaminant.

The city believes firefighting foam used by the city during training exercises affected the water.

Increased exposure to the contaminants can cause cancer, liver damage, low birth weight and a weakened immune system. 

PFOS has been found in other Florida communities, including Satellite Beach near Patrick Air Force Base and Marion County near the Florida State Fire College.  

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Overdorf applauded the city, and said more communities should take a proactive approach to identifying and treating contaminated water.

"I hope they can set an example for the rest of the state," Overdorf said. 

The project is expected to cost $2.1 million this year.

The project comes after the city filed a federal lawsuit in October against several manufacturers of the foam previously used by fire personnel. 

More: Stuart may try to ID, sue whoever polluted drinking-water wells