Cancer Cluster Concerns

The Palm Beach County Health Department is meeting with residents in the Acreage to go over the latest findings about the cancer cluster.

The meeting at Seminole Ridge High in Loxahatchee Monday night drew hundreds of people.

Last week, the health department confirmed what everyone feared was true, that there is a cancer cluster in the Acreage, meaning there is an elevated level of cancer there especially among girls.

Many people in the Acreage have wells, but the cancer cluster is making some feel now is the time to run county water lines into the Acreage.

Dunia Mursuli lives with her husband and their seven year old son in the Acreage on 68th Street North. They drink only bottled water.

She says they have well-water, but with all the talk lately about a cancer cluster, she wants to be on the county water system instead.

"We definitely want county water. We need it," she said.

They don't drink the tap water that comes from their well, and only use the well water for showering.

"You think the source of the cancer is coming from the well water? I believe that. I really believe that," Mursuli said.

She wants to be on the county water system, even though she and others would have to pay the cost of running the water lines to the area.   The Indian Trail Improvement District says the cost per homeowner could be between $13000 and $17000.

"I want to have normal water like everybody does. It's not fair that we have well water," Mursuli said.

Another Acreage resident who's lived here for about 10 years says he too is on a well, but would like to hook up to the county water system.

"I think it would help the resale of the homes, too. Why? Well if I was a homebuyer you read all the news about the cancer and all that, I don't think you would want to buy a house out here," said Lewis Wesley, who owns a carpentry business.

Another fellow, who helps take care of his mother's yard in the Acreage, says he feels it would be a mistake for everyone to stay on well water and he believes they should all switch over to the county system.

"I myself feel as though it would be appropriate based on the issue of the cancer cluster," said Doug Doran, who lives in West Palm Beach but looks after his mother's property.

One homeowner on 63rd Lane North did not want to go on camera. But she says she is very much opposed to hooking up to the county water system.

She says she moved out to the Acreage to be left alone, and sees no reason why they should have to give up their well.

The issue may be put on the ballot in November so that people who live in the Acreage could vote on the matter.