Out of curiosity, have you ever asked yourself where your tap water comes from?  You’re probably thinking, “Yeah, I wonder about that all the time.”  Well, in case you’re one of the rare few who never ask the really important questions, such as “Why do genes mutate?” or “What is a differential equation?” or “Why can’t Phyllis Smith shut up?,” I’m here today to answer your burning question about the source of our drinking water.

Here in South Florida, our water comes from the Biscayne Aquifer system, described by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as:

“The Biscayne Aquifer is the primary source of water for all of Dade and Broward Counties and the southern portion of Palm Beach County. Water from the Biscayne is also transported by pipeline to the Florida Keys. The aquifer consists of highly permeable limestone and less permeable sand and sandstone. The northern part of the aquifer has more sand and grades northward and westward into the sandy deposits that are part of the surficial aquifer system. In most places, the highly permeable rocks of the Biscayne aquifer are covered by a thin veneer of porous soil and aquifer water levels rise rapidly in response to rainfall. Water in the Biscayne aquifer is unconfined and generally flows toward streams, the ocean and the extensive system of canals in south Florida.”

A simplified description and illustration can be found on a University of Florida website called Biscayne Aquifer – What is an Aquifer?  This site also describes how an aquifer can be contaminated, as follows:

“Because the Biscayne Aquifer is close to the surface, its water supply can easily be contaminated by pollutants. The aquifer is threatened by contaminants such as: septic tank drainage, runoff from landfills, dumps and sewage, pesticides, fertilizers, gasoline and other chemicals. Contaminants may also be absorbed into the rocks of the aquifer. Water in the Biscayne aquifer flows in the direction of the ocean, but how long it takes to reach the ocean is uncertain. Depending upon location of the contaminant, the type of contaminant and the water level of the aquifer, it could take days, months, or years to leave the water supply. Also, there is the possibility of the contaminated water being drawn up by wells.”

Just so happens that the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates “injection wells.”  According to its website:

“In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Part of SDWA required EPA to report back to Congress on waste disposal practices, and develop minimum federal requirements for injection practices that protect public health by preventing injection wells from contaminating underground sources of drinking water (USDWs)…An underground source of drinking water (USDW) is an aquifer or a part of an aquifer that is currently used as a drinking water source or may be needed as a drinking water source in the future.”

Injection wells?  Hmmm…  That sure does sound familiar.  Oh, yeah, I remember!  According to my research and as I reported in Honor Among Thieves, a man by the name of Faustin Denis is the General Manager of IMECO, Inc., the company that was given the no-bid $800,000.00 contract to construct a deep injection well on the property known as Biscayne Landings.  In addition, IMECO just received another contract from North Miami for the amount of $270,980.60.  This is the same Faustin Denis who was allowed to receive these North Miami government contracts while standing trial for Felony Racketeering charges having to do with government contracts.  That alone just boggles the mind.

You will also remember that Faustin Denis is also on the Federal government’s Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), barring him from receiving Federal contracts, specifically ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) contracts!  According to its website:

“The purpose of EPLS is to provide a single comprehensive list of individuals and firms excluded by Federal government agencies from receiving federal contracts or federally approved subcontracts and from certain types of federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits. The EPLS is used to keep agencies abreast of administrative, as well as, statutory exclusions taken throughout the Federal Government. Actions may be taken under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or supplements thereto, under specific agency regulations or under the Government-wide Nonprocurement Suspension and Debarment Common Rule [68 FR 66533] or other specific statutory authority.”

Knowing all these things, one just has to ask “Why?”  Why was Faustin Denis placed on the EPA’s Excluded Parties List in the first place?  Why is Faustin Denis barred from receiving Federal EPA contracts and funding, but is somehow allowed to construct a “deep injection well” in Miami-Dade County that can very well affect the possible contamination of our only source of drinking water – the Biscayne Aquifer?

Think about that the next time you turn on your tap.

What’s in your water?

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”