Ryan Ray
The pro-business Florida Chamber announced a new “educational partnership” with Brian Lapointe of Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute on Monday.
The longstanding Tallahassee advocacy group said it will work with Lapointe in order to develop “strong, science-based water quality standards” as Florida population continues toward an estimated 26 million by 2030. That growth will bring a 30 percent increase in demand on the state’s already-strained water supply.
In an statement announcing the partnership with Lapointe, who has studied South Florida’s ecology for decades, the Chamber pointed toward his research on the effect of septic tanks on the toxic algal blooms that are choking major waterways near the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee, among other areas.
“Dr. Lapointe’s scientific research shows that septic tank sewage nitrogen is a smoking gun that threatens many of Florida’s waterways, including the Indian River Lagoon,” said Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the conservative-leaning group. “At the Florida Chamber, we remain committed to Florida’s environment, and look forward to sharing Dr. Lapointe’s research and further securing Florida’s water future.”
The announcement cited Lapointe on a recent episode of the Chamber’s Bottom Line webcast, where he said many of the main sources of pollution are not realized by the public, including septic tanks.
While excess runoff from agricultural operations and mismanagement of natural resources by state officials are often thought to be the culprits when it comes to Florida’s water woes – like the recent massive fish kill in the Indian River Lagoon – septic tanks are also a proven source of harmful nitrogen in waterways.
“We have so many opinions around the state as to the various factors that may be causing things like the brown tide in the Indian River Lagoon, or the problems we’re seeing in the St. Lucie estuary or Florida Bay,” said Lapointe in the announcement.
“But, it really comes back to not using political or expedient solutions to these problems, which can often times make the problems worse. It is really looking at cause and effect and we really need to use the best science available to find out the causes of these problems.”
5 comments
Eric Koepfler
March 30, 2016 at 9:17 pm
Brian Lapointe has a long well regarded scientific publication record on nutrient effects upon all types of microalgae, macroalgae, and plants. It is good move by the state of Florida to return to the guidance of this quality of scientific knowledge to deal with the continuing impacts of eutrophication.
Daisy Eloise Applewhite
April 15, 2016 at 2:06 am
This is the kind of information we need to see that it isn’t Big Sugar, (as environmental groups claim) that’s causing the extensive pollution. I’ve said before, I would look at the nitrogen from poo leaking from septic tanks. The nitrogen feeds the algae growth which in turn reduces the ability of the seagrass to produce oxygen.
Linda Breakmont
April 18, 2016 at 8:40 pm
Yes, It has already been established that the biggest cause of pollution in our waterways is from leaking septic tanks, and of course the cattle ranches that spill off into the east and west coast canals. USF also just released a study proving that red tide comes from the ocean. We need to clean the ocean and septic tans before anything else.
Ben Johnson
April 18, 2016 at 8:55 pm
I would hope they would use science based solutions. The idea to buy land south of the lake is ridiculous. I think the state and federal governments already are fixing the Everglades. The South Florida Water management district has hundreds of scientists, many with PHD’s. I think they know what they are doing.
Bryce
April 29, 2016 at 8:44 pm
Maybe this group will provide ACTUAL solutions. Buying land in the South is not a viable solution – maybe they can help explain that to some of these radical environmental groups.
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