82-year-old Arcadia woman gets help after refusing to drink city water

ARCADIA, Fla. (WINK) — An 82-year-old woman who refuses to drink or cook with her city water is getting help from WINK News.

Loretta Tice has lived in Arcadia for most of her life. She left for Miami for 57 years but returned to the city where she attended Smith Brown High School, the only Black high school in Arcadia at the time.

"It was segregated. It was not integrated," Tice said.

For Tice, one issue has persisted throughout her time in Arcadia—the city water. She relies exclusively on bottled water for drinking and cooking, keeping cases of it stocked in her home.

"I drink plenty of water, I drink a lot of water, but it just don't taste good to drink," Tice said.

When asked to describe the taste, Tice struggled to pinpoint it.

"It doesn't taste like the water I'm buying," she said. "I don't know where it might be in my head, because I know how long it been bad. I might be forming an opinion behind taste, because it doesn't taste like the water I drink now."

WINK News anchor Corey Lazar visited Tice's home and turned on her faucet to fill a cup with water. At a quick glance, the water didn't appear cloudy, but Tice's main complaint was a distinct smell.

WINK News contacted the Arcadia city administrator, who had the utilities department test Tice's water immediately. In just a couple of days, the test came back showing the residual in the water—the amount of disinfectant—passed. The city also flushed the water line at Tice's home.

Tice said she's not alone in her concerns about the water quality.

"Everybody been talking about water in Arcadia," she said.

After the city flushed the lines, Tice said the smell in the water is much better.

The city administrator said residents with water issues in Arcadia should contact the water treatment plant supervisor.

The number to call the water treatment plant at (863) 494-1626.