May 2, 2008
ProjectPowerPlant.com

The Florida Legislature passed a bill yesterday to end a decade’s old practice of dumping poorly treated sewage off Florida’s southeast coast. The House of Representatives passed the Wastewater Disposal Bill (HB 7139), created earlier by the Senate (SB 1302), with just two days left in the session.

The bill requires all facilities that discharge domestic wastewater through ocean outfalls meet higher treatment requirements by December 2018, and achieve at least 60% reuse of the wastewater by 2025, prohibiting the practice beyond that date, except as a backup for certain situations. No new or expanded ocean outfalls would be allowed. While the majority of the state has reached 61% daily reuse, the southeast region – including Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward where the six ocean outfalls are located– average only 6% reuse. Utilities in these three counties discharge over 6 million gallons of sewage daily from six ocean outfall pipes near coral reefs and coastal beaches.

Earlier this year, lawmakers in Tallahassee worked with a number of stake holders to help craft the bill. Senator Burt Saunders (Naples), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation and Representative Stan Mayfield (Vero Beach) Chairman of the House Environment & Natural Resources Council championed the bill along with House Majority Leader Adam Hasner (Delray Beach).

Governor Crist and Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole also supported this legislation. “We are extremely appreciative of these policy makers leadership and foresight into protecting our natural resources,” added Johnson.

The bill also requires the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and state to provide priority funding in the future for water resource and water supply development projects that promote elimination of the ocean outfalls. “The bill will require extensive planning, funding and infrastructure to make the necessary transition to advanced treatment and reuse,” said Johnson. “However, it will be worth it in the long run to ensure a healthy coral reefs and drinking water in south Florida for the future.”

Note: Reef Relief teamed up with the Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition, a first-time effort of environmental organizations to join forces to conserve, protect and restore Florida’s coastal and marine environment, to work on this and other important marine issues in Florida. Its organizations represent over 200,000 members in Florida deeply concerned for Florida’s unique seaside and marine resources. They can be reached at www.flcoastalandocean.org.