COLUMNS

Septic to sewer, a water-quality imperative

Christine Robinson
Christine Robinson and Jack Cox -- It was a sold out crowd at the Argus Foundation Luncheon held at the Sarasota Yacht Club on August 30, 2018. A panel discussion, with scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory and the owner of a full scale agricultural operation, focused on the causes and solutions to our Red Tide -- {Herald-Tribune photo / Wendy Dewhurst Clark}

When considering capital projects, governments love parks and libraries. You can see them, people enjoy them, they are tangible amenities that increase the quality of life. People come to their ribbon cuttings, with those openings often heralded and found on the front pages of our local newspapers. They have constituencies who form groups to advocate for them, appropriately called “The Friends of (insert name of park or library.)”

To be sure, I am one of those former government officials who loved those projects. They are very important for quality of life.

However, wastewater infrastructure is a health issue, a primary duty of local government. It affects our water, our food, our lungs, our economy, and our quality of life. There is no “Friends of Sewers.”

There are no big ribbon cuttings for sewer expansions, in fact, they are often contentious and met with neighborhood opposition due to the cost of hook ups by the homes. They are some of the toughest and scariest public projects to do, and with the onset of single-member districts on the Sarasota County Commission, they will get even tougher to do even though it is in the best interests of the entire county.

We are at a crossroads in water quality when it comes to converting septics to sewers. But it is not just here, it is nationwide. Florida happens to be ground zero for the issue as far as the news is concerned, but a look around the country reveals that this is happening everywhere.

Governing, a media platform covering politics, policy and management for state and local government leaders, recently published an article titled, “Toxic Waters,” which details the septic tank problems occurring in Alabama, Michigan and New York with references to Florida, Connecticut and many others.

Suffolk County, New York, has made this a priority after years of neglect. No one paid attention, because as the county executive put it, “The problem with septic systems,” he says, “is that they’re underground. The saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ is apt here. When people buy their houses they know how old the boiler is, how old the roof is. They don’t know how old their septic system is or how it’s working. But we’re really starting to see the results of septic systems: closed beaches, red tide, brown tide, fish kills.”

According to the article, voters in Suffolk County approved $360 million in sewer projects, using some of the money they received from federal disaster recovery money from Hurricane Sandy. The county executive goes on to say, “This is part of the effort to remediate the pollution in the waterways by reducing nitrogen inputs.”

Here in Sarasota County, water quality is in the top seven priorities of the county. The county was able to find $5 million to match their $5 million ask of the state Legislature for septic to sewer replacement. This will replace septic systems in the Phillippi Creek area for 1,340 homes within the Sarasota Bay Watershed. This is a shovel ready project, design is 100 percent complete. However, the project still needs another $5 million even if they get the state money to complete the project.

According to a January 18, 2019 staff memo, Sarasota County has about 40,000 improved parcels using septic. Approximately 12,000 of those are within 900 feet of surface waters. While septic systems are designed to remove pathogens, the county is very upfront about nitrogen, it only removes 10 to 30 percent of nitrogen.

According to Mote Marine Laboratory, nitrogen is a nutrient that feeds red tide.

Timing is important. According to the county, 25-33 pounds of nitrogen per year discharge from a four-person residence. Every single year, from one single home.

On March 29th, the County Commission held a budget workshop. There was a lot of conversation about how much Sarasota County has done, and they have. They are a leader. But as long as Sarasota County has numerous surface waters which have been designated “impaired waters” for bacteria and nutrients, we only care about what Sarasota County is going to do in the future to change that.

We are encouraged by the conversation at the county budget workshop admitting that this is not the fun stuff, but it must be done. The County Commission is headed in the right direction by having administration make water quality a priority in the five-year capital improvement project plan. The Argus Foundation encourages resident and the business community to be a “Friend of Sewers,” encourage the County Commission to keep going and do more for water quality and make sure you thank them when they do.

Christine Robinson is executive director of the Argus Foundation and was on the Sarasota County Commission from 2010 to 2016. Contact her at christine@argusfoundation.org.