Miramar responds after being sued over corrosive water treatment
MIRAMAR - It's a common tale for many homeowners in Miramar, busted pipes leading to thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Residents say what starts as a tiny water mark on the ceiling or wall quickly becomes a huge problem.
"The pipes just have pin-prick breaks and sometimes you just see a small water mark and it will grow and grow," said Miramar resident Diane Moore-Eubanks.
These corroded copper pipes are from one Miramar man's home, who wished to remain anonymous.
He said he started having serious issues with his pipes about two years ago.
"You're seeing the pipes here. I mean, all the green spots, you can see where leaks are coming down and the little green spots. What happens is they get calcified, when they're small pinhole leaks, and so they'll stop leaking for a while but then once you de-pressure your pipes, and re-pressure your pipes, it'll push that calcium out and it will start leaking again."
This homeowner had to replace all the copper pipes in his home and was forced out of the house for months because of mold and water damage.
"What we found through testing and the experts that we retained is that there is a chemical reaction that happens when this treated water coming out of this west water treatment plant hit copper pipes," said attorney Leslie Kroeger.
Kroeger, a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, filed a class action lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of several other Miramar residents who are experiencing similar problems.
Impacted residents can click here to share their information.
The lawsuit alleges the city of Miramar, and its West Water Treatment Plant are responsible.
"They blamed it on improper installation of the pipes, so someone else's fault, not there's. Or improper grounding, which would go to installation, which again, they're saying not our fault, not our fault. We don't think that to be true. We believe that the allegations we are making are correct".
UPDATE: On Thursday, The City of Miramar responded to the class-action lawsuit:
"The City of Miramar is in receipt of the complaint filed regarding pinhole leaks found in copper pipes allegedly caused by improper water treatment. The City's two (2) Water Treatment Plants are regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and the United States Department of Environmental Protection (USDEP). Samples are collected, tested, and reported on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, and the water consistently meets regulatory standards.
City Manager Dr. Roy Virgin stated, "The City of Miramar values its residents and is sensitive to their concerns regarding copper pipe issues. The City has consistently assured residents and businesses that the water treatment facilities are up to par and does not cause damage to pipes. The case filed is being reviewed by the City Attorney's office, who will respond through the appropriate channels."
Currently, The City offers a loan program for residents affected by copper pipe pinhole leaks for a maximum of $10,000 at 1% interest rate with a 5-year term. In 2021 two workshops were conducted virtually to educate residents on the safety of the City's water and in addition, a dedicated webpage was created with videos, water quality report and FAQs:Miramarfl.gov/CopperPipePinholeLeaks. Water Quality FAQs were done and an offer was made to residents to schedule in-home testing with follow ups free of cost.
The City of Miramar continues to provide safe drinking water that meets or exceeds Federal and State standards and continuously monitors its water facilities and acts accordingly if it becomes aware of any issue that affects its water treatment and quality."