Residents in east Orange County are concerned about their water quality and exorbitant bills. They said new independent tests, conducted by Orange County’s Environmental Protection Division, are troubling.

  • Water in 18 Wedgefield homes tested with high amounts of trihalomethanes
  • Residents say they are also paying high monthly bills
  • Pluris, the private company that handles Wedgefield water, would not comment

“I was actually scared. I thought ‘Oh, is this dangerous? Should I stop drinking the water?’” said Natalie Harris, who moved to east Orange County two years ago.

Clutching her test results, Harris described how she and neighbors rallied to have their water tested in recent months. At Orange County’s request, water samples were taken from 18 homes in Wedgefield, paid for by the county’s General Fund at a cost of $500 per household. Harris was among the first of her neighbors to receive the results on Tuesday.

“It made me feel like I need to go buy bottled water,” she said, peering at the papers.

Results show high amounts of total trihalomethanes, a by-product of the disinfection process, in both Harris and her neighbor’s water. There are different kinds of trihalomethanes, but one common kind is chloroform.

We spoke with an environmental program supervisor, who said the chemicals found in residents’ water could potentially cause harmful health effects. Research has shown exposure to high amounts of trihalomethanes can lead to an increased risk of cancer. However, they’re continuing to test the water samples and forward them to the state.

We reached out to Pluris, who operates the water and wastewater utilities in Wedgefield to comment.

Pluris responded: “We don’t share information with news media.”

Since Pluris is a private company, we’ve learned that any action would come from the state level.

Harris said she and her neighbors are frustrated. Their water has a heavy chlorinated smell and is filled with sediment.

“There are a lot of people in the neighborhood who won’t drink it, won’t cook with it,” said Harris. “They’ll brush their teeth with it and maybe shower.”

And, in addition to alleging they’re forced to have low quality water, Harris said her monthly bills are through the roof.

“I was on OUC water before I moved here. We paid 73 cents per thousand gallons. Here, I pay $7.86 per thousand gallons,” she said. “I was receiving bills that were $177, $245. My bill in December was $475.”

The woman said Wedgefield residents want answers, and to feel protected from “price gouging.”

“I just want affordable water. And knowing it might also be making us sick is adding insult to injury,” said Harris. “We pay such a high price for water, we expect the best quality.”