A radioactive ‘Fountain of Youth’ stands in this Florida city. But is it safe to drink?

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Those who venture along the west coast of Florida might find themselves in the small beach town of Punta Gorda, nearly two hours south of Tampa.

But if you travel to Punta Gorda, there’s a good chance you’d miss one of its biggest local attractions: an old drinking fountain in the middle of downtown.

While unassuming at first glance, the fountain has been lovingly dubbed the “Fountain of Youth” by locals over the years.

Old newspaper articles report accounts from locals who claim that the fountain has kept them young and energized. It was popular enough that some people had to wait in lines just to get a drink.

And while there’s no way to tell for sure whether this is the same spring that famed explorer Ponce De Leon was searching for in the early 1500s, one thing is for certain.

The fountain is radioactive.

According to NPR, the well water was tested in the 1980s, with health officials discovering high levels of radium inside the well. Specifically, there were around 9 picocuries — double the recommended maximum under federal guidelines.

While there were reportedly talks of closing it down, the popularity surrounding the fountain pressured officials into keeping it open and available to the public.

However, the Florida Department of Health posted a sign on the drinking fountain, which reads as follows:

But despite what the sign says, rest assured; you’re not likely to develop cancer just because you take a quick swig.

“Well, that sign may be scary, but it seems a little bit of radioactivity might not be all bad…” U.S. Geological Survey researcher Zoltan Szabo told NPR back in 2013. “If that was your drinking water, and that was the only source of water you had, and you drank it for 70 years — even then, you’d only have the one in 20,000 risk.”

In fact, NPR reports that the well water might contain a compound — magnesium sulfate — that can actually lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve respiratory health.

The downside? Magnesium sulfate makes the water smell horrible.

When News 6 traveled to the site to check out the fountain, it gave off an odor of sulfur and mildew — not exactly the most appetizing scent.

Regardless, the fountain still works, and it’s still accessible to those who want to use it.

Of course, you can always just stick to the tap water at home. That offers its own suite of health benefits — and without all of the radiation.