Florida TaxWatch outlines recommendations to upgrade sewer infrastructure state-wide

(UI) – Florida TaxWatch released its Septic-to-Sewer: Protecting Florida's Ground and Surface Water Report, outlining four commonsense recommendations to combat the threat to Florida's waters by antiquated septic tank technologies:

The Florida Legislature should task the Department of Environmental Protection to create, and comply with, a comprehensive plan to develop water and wastewater infrastructure statewide, including the development of central sewer lines and wastewater treatment facilities and the removal or enhancement of septic tanks. The approval of projects should be based upon established statewide priorities and demonstrated needs, following the model exhibited by the DOT Work Program.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection should work with the Florida Legislature to pass legislation that incorporates the provisions of Executive Order 23-06 into Florida Statutes.

Where central sewer is not possible, the Florida Legislature should require enhanced, nutrient-reducing technology for septic tanks within a BMAP or in an area with a high-water table.

The Florida Legislature should authorize the development and implementation of a septic tank inspection and monitoring program, as well as extend an existing financial assistance program or create a new financial assistance program to help economically challenged property owners remediate septic tank issues. The state should consider imposing a user fee on utilities that can be bonded against to sustain funding for septic conversions.

30% of Florida's population utilizes septic systems to treat their residential waste. That 30% represents 12% of the United States's septic tank usage. With 76% of Floridians living in coastal zones, septic tank effluent is too rarely mitigated, and is a completely preventable recipe for disaster. Septic tank effluent fuels harmful algal blooms; feeds dangerous bacteria including Vibrio vulnificus, the "flesh-eating bacteria;" and contaminates ground and surface waters.

With Governor DeSantis' and the Florida Legislature's massive appropriations aimed at fixing Florida's wastewater infrastructure, it is only appropriate that Florida TaxWatch makes sure that all aspects of Florida's water infrastructure improvements are addressed efficiently, with strong fiscal discipline.

"For a state that champions itself as the Fishing Capital of the World and one whose economy is driven by water-based industries, relying upon antiquated septic tank technologies threatens the state's economic health," states Brett Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Angler Action Foundation. "We must take heed of Florida TaxWatch's Septic-to-Sewer: Protecting Florida's Ground and Surface Water report that outlines and encourages technologies that prevent or minimize the threats to our coastal and spring watersheds and the recreational and commercial fishing industries they support."

The American Society of Civil Engineers rates Florida's water infrastructure a lowly C-minus.

"Septic tank conversions are not cheap, but they also do not have to be a detrimental financial burden," says Doug Coward, Founder of the nonprofit Solar Energy Loan Fund (SELF). "There are a number of financial resources available for consumers seeking to convert to centralized sewage. SELF offers unsecured micro loans for consumers seeking to convert to centralized sewage or replace outdated lateral lines. SELF has already partnered with Martin County to complete the first $1 million of septic to sewer conversion projects, and we have the capacity to do much more."

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