Water Quality Issues
Our most visible and pressing issues over the last several years have revolved around the condition of and efforts to improve water quality. These efforts extend all the way to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.
Island-based efforts to improve the quality of our coastal waters are limited by our location at the confluence of the Caloosahatchee and Gulf of Mexico. Indeed, our local water conditions and quality are influenced by the upstream watershed and operation and function of the greater Everglades ecosystem, which covers one third of the State of Florida. We are actively engaged with the programs outlined in the boxes below, working to contribute a west coast perspective, build consensus on solutions, provide public comment and educate our members and community through public outreach and presentations. These are part of our overall goal of getting more residents involved.
There are a number of other important water quality initiatives we are following and will be reporting on including Change in Alternative Criteria; Water Quality banking (SFWMD); and Florida Pollutant Trading Program (DEP) .
An algal turf scrubber (ATS) is a managed aquatic plant (MAP) technology that uses algae or periphyton to remove nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen from the water. Taylor Creek is responsible for some of the highest nutrient loads to Lake Okeechobee, making it a great candidate for a pilot study of algal turf scrubber technology. Based on water quality data from 1985 - 2005 the Taylor Creek ATS is expected to reduce phosphorus loading to the lake by 4,000 pounds and nitrogen loading by 17,087 pounds.
The process consists of a sloped, lined flow way overlaid with a grid for algae to attach to and grow on. Water is pulsed into the flow way and over the grid to recruit and cultivate natural algal populations to form the scrubber. As water flows over the algal scrubber, phosphorus and nitrogen are absorbed by the algae and removed from the water. The algal mat is routinely harvested to maintain the growth of algae and capacity of the algae to absorb nutrients.
The system can be built in a small footprint of any configuration and can be operated as an open flowing system or as a closed system that can recirculate water to achieve higher removal rates. It is a flexible system that can be adapted to a variety of locations and aquatic conditions. In addition, ATS can be coupled with more traditional storm water treatment systems including constructed wetland stormwater treatment areas (STA) -- reservoirs -- and best management practices (BMP), to achieve even higher levels of nutrient removal.
And it is an economical technology. A University of Florida IFAS Extension service economic analysis compared the cost effectiveness of two different water treatment systems with demonstrated ability to remove phosphorus: managed aquatic plant systems (MAPS), such as the algal turf scrubber and more traditional wetland stormwater treatment areas (STA). Measuring cost effectiveness in dollars per kilogram of phosphorus removed, MAPS provided a significantly higher phosphorus removal capacity per acre than STA's.**
This is an alternative that can provide water quality treatment while applying technology that will help achieve Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) targets for the Lake, Everglades, Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and estuaries.
**University of Florida, IFAS Publication FE576. Economic Analysis of Water Treatment for Phosphorus Removal in Florida by Daisuke Sano, Alan Hodges and Robert Degner
See under Caloosahatchee/Lake Okeechobee Issues
See under Land Use Issues
A DEP proposal to change the classification system of Florida’s recreational waters from 1 to 3 categories. The current fishable/swimmable water quality standard for recreational waters would be expanded to include two additional, degraded standards: splashable/fishable and unfishable/unswimmable. If approved, this change would allow lower water quality standards in recreational waters. These changes were envisioned as a “solution” to a problem in Tallahassee with a creek that has been converted to a stormwater ditch and to address low dissolved oxygen in blackwater creeks. Instead, it has underscored the fact that “one size fits all” regulation for a state as diverse as Florida is irresponsible. We are actively opposing the proposed changes.
November 2006 Member Update: There are a number of water quality policy changes under review at the present time. One of these is Florida's Designated Uses standards under the authority of the DEP.
Current Designated Uses include:
- Class I Drinking water
- Class II Shell-fishing waters
- Class III Recreation
DEP has appointed a Political Action Committee (PAC) to review Florida's current water uses and make recommendations for adding new uses. DEP suggests that new categories of designated uses are needed because certain waterbodies are unable to meet current water quality standards either because of their use or their natural conditions. Two examples that are used to demonstrate this include agricultural ditches used for irrigation that are held to a standard for recreational use even through no recreation is appropriate and natural, unimpacted blackwater swamps in the north and central part of the State that cannot meet the current dissolved oxygen standards. It is felt that holding all water bodies of the Class III standard is unfair and does not reflect the unique characteristics of some natural systems.
The current standards are proposed to be changed to a series of seven human uses and four aquatic life uses including categories such as:
- waters good enough to fish in but not suitable for human contact, or
- water suitable for boating but not good enough to sustain aquatic life
The problem with this effort is that the cumulative downstream impacts would not be protected. Our goal is to protect water quality by insisting the State uphold current water quality standards and not create new categories of lower water quality standards for fishing and swimming.
Letter to Gov. Crist and DEP Secretary Michael Sole regarding proposed changes dated May 15, 2007
November 2006 Member Update:In 2002 Florida adopted the Impaired Waters Rule to address the Federal Clean Water Act requirement that States list all impaired (polluted) waters and prioritize them for pollution reduction plans referred to as Total Maximum Daily Loads, (TMDLs).
The setting of the TMDL standards is critical because it will be the standard used to establish which water bodies are polluted (impaired) and what priority they are assigned for restoration. This is where Designated Uses become critical.
Our goal is to assure the highest water quality standards are used for evaluation of impaired waters instead of allowing new lower standards to define and identify impaired waters.
See under Caloosahatchee/Lake Okeechobee Issues
This subcommittee of the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council is working on a series of watershed initiatives including fertilizer formulation and regulation, wastewater plant discharges, septic systems and stormwater, designed to improve our management of water quality in the basin.
The
Clean Water Network of Florida has prepared a report: "The Gulf of
Mexico, Florida's Toilet: How Sewage Discharges are Fouling Florida's
Gulf of Mexico Tributaries, Estuaries & Coastal Waters"
Read the Report
See Florida stats by county
SCCF Statement of Priorities sent to Mick Denham on September 3, 2008
This page is currently under construction. We apologize for any inconvenience. Posted July 2008.