Laserfiche WebLink
Between 1971 and 1985, there were 245 ground water related <br /> outbreaks of disease, resulting in more than 52,000 individuals <br /> being affected by associated illnesses(Browning). While most <br /> of these diseases were short-tern digestive disorders caused <br /> by bacteria and viruses, hazardous chemicals found in wells <br /> nationwide also pose risks to public health. <br /> The 1986 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water act <br /> require states to implement wellfield protection programs for <br /> public water wells. Prevention strategies include maintaining <br /> the isolation distances from potential contamination sources, <br /> reporting to the state violations of the isolation distance, and <br /> asking a local governmental unit to regulate these sources. <br /> Cleaning up contaminated ground water can be technically <br /> difficult, extremely expensive, and sometimes simply cannot be <br /> done. Contaminated ground water also affects the community <br /> by discouraging new businesses or residents from locating in <br /> that community. <br /> Vulnerability Assessment. Wellfield contamination can have <br /> the following potential impacts within a community: <br /> • Potable water system loss or disruption; <br /> • Sewer system outage; <br /> • Human health and safety; <br /> • Psychological hardship; <br /> • Economic disruption; and <br /> • Disruption of community services. <br /> Wellfield contamination has not been a major problem for most <br /> of Indian River County. There is some potential exposure to <br /> this hazard in the eastern portion of the County, but overall, the <br /> County vulnerability to this hazard is considered low. The <br /> County addresses the issue of wellfield contamination in the <br /> Comprehensive Growth Management Plan—Future Land Use <br /> Element. <br /> Risk Assessment. Historic Events. Due to the low <br /> probability of occurrence, this hazard will not be fully profiled. <br /> f. Communications Failure— Hazard Identification. <br /> As society emerges from industrial production into the age of <br /> information, we are seeing new kinds of technological <br /> Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 69 <br />