Monday, August 27, 2012

Pesticide Becomes Florida Community's Pest

By: Duane Craig


As DeLand, Fla. recently learned, there is no escaping the consequences of trying to control the environment, and the living things within it. Comfortable residents, some with golf course views and many with country club memberships in the Country Club Estates community now know one of the true costs of striving for a bug-free environment.

The pesticide, dieldrin, has been found in nearly 50 percent of the wells tested, driving 118 homeowners to ask to be connected to city water. Meanwhile, 80 homes are in the process of being connected, and the property values in the community have dropped 50 percent, according to this report.

The pesticide is widely used to control termites and other pests at the residences, is used at the nearby golf course and was stored and mixed at a pest control business at U.S. 17-92 and Orange Camp Road. To be on the safe side, residents have been encouraged to have wells tested regularly, garden in above-ground containers, use masks for mowing lawns that have sandy spots, and limit children playing in the yards.

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