Drinking Water

Approximately 3400 cattle-dipping vats were constructed throughout Florida from 1906 through 1962.  These vats were used to eradicate ticks from cattle and other live stock.  The vats were constructed of concrete and were typically 30 feet long, 3 feet wide and 7 feet deep.  The vats were generally filled with an Arsenic solution that killed the ticks.  It is now known that the solutions used in these cattle-dipping vats are harmful to humans and areas with the vats may have contaminated ground water in their vicinity.  Other possible contaminants are BHC, DT, DDE and toxaphene.

For a list of the number of known cattle-dipping vats in each of Florida's counties that have been accounted for thus far, click here.  For additional information, please check out DEP's website (Opens in a new window).

If you suspect that you have a cattle-dipping vat on your property or have located one on another piece of property that has not been documented by the State of Florida, please contact

Charlie Donahue
Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Water
4052 Capital Circle SE, Bin A 08
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1710

Phone: (850) 245-4069

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing
Email: HSEW@doh.state.fl.us