Inspecting septic tanks is a fine idea, but the unfortunate truth is that “leaking” or not, even fully functioning conventional septic tanks distribute nutrient-rich water into the soil which then heads immediately down into the aquifer. It may take considerable time or almost no time at all, depending on different factors.
Rather than inspecting septics, we should be spending time and money putting in sewers and reducing fertilizers.
We must point out that the Clean Water bill referred to below did not include the original recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force. The bill was re-written by by polluters’ representatives and rendered useless as far as solving algae problems or any other water problem. Unfortunately, the Task Force still endorsed the bad bill.
Read the entire article here at Florida Politics.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Bill to save seagrass and manatees gets first blue-green light
Renzo Downey
A bill to reduce algal blooms, and protect Florida’s declining manatee population, is inching forward in the Legislature.
A Senate panel voted unanimously Monday to approve the proposal (SB 832), which would implement the state Blue-Green Algae Task Force’s recommendations on prevention, cleanup and mitigation. The legislation, filed by Orlando Democratic Sen. Linda Stewart, strives to help reduce nutrient pollution that fuels algal blooms.
The effort comes after Florida’s worst year on record for manatee deaths, with more than 1,000 dead. Clearing the waters of the harmful blue-green algae that kills their seagrass food source could eventually help save the population.
Monday’s vote was the second time the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved a version of the bill, after committee members did so during the 2021 Session.
“I do hope this helps us with our manatee situation,” Stewart told the panel.
The bill’s central component would require the Department of Environmental Protection to implement a septic inspection program. Officials would have to inspect septic tanks every five years.
The legislation is part of a multiyear effort for Florida to tackle algal blooms that have become increasingly common and worse in the past decade. Those blooms come from nutrient runoffs and choking water systems throughout the state, particularly from Lake Okeechobee outward to the coasts.
Gov. Ron DeSantis created the Blue-Green Algae Task Force as one of his first acts when he took office in 2019. Lawmakers approved most of the task force’s recommendations issued that following October. However, Stewart’s bill would round up a couple steps the Legislature left off when it passed the package in 2020.
Authorities expected another bad year for manatees, with more deaths to come as Florida enters the winter months. During that time, manatees gather in warm-water areas where food can be hard to find, according to The Associated Press….
