OSFR is happy to see money well-spent on converting septic tanks to sewers. Statewide, septics contribute approximate 12% of nitrate pollution while agriculture contributes over 70 percent. In Citrus County in the Homosassa/Chassahowitzka basin it is septics 19% and agriculture 46%. In 2021-2022 state funding to combat nitrate pollution, septics received 12% of the budget and agriculture 4% and I think all or almost all that was for funding to acquire land for purchase or lease. These figures come from the Florida Springs Council.
Agriculture is protected by a strong lobby and gets special treatment even though it is unsustainable in its current state. Its pollution is also out of proportion
In spite of the way-out-of-whack spending proportions, one of the very few effective uses of the money spent by our water districts is septic to sewer. (The other is land purchase or lease.)
We appreciate the environmental support that the Citrus Chronicle contributes.
Read the original article here in Citrus County Chronicle.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Septic to sewer benefits outweigh the costs
Since the 1990s, Citrus Countians have made the protection and restoration of the county’s springs, lakes and rivers their mission. Key to the accomplishment of their mission is the reduction of nitrate pollutants.
In this regard, leaching septic systems are the major source of nitrate pollution, contributing as much as 42 percent of the current nitrogen pollution in local and regional springs. To combat nitrate pollution, Citrus County government, as well as the cities of Crystal River and Inverness, have been determinedly moving forward on a septic-to-sewer conversion path by doggedly pursuing state grants to reduce the costs for property owners.
With current septic system installation costs in Florida, ranging from an estimated $6,000 to $20,000, the sewer extension costs for affected property owners are not only favorable but reasonable for the long term benefits to the property owner, city and environment.
Accordingly, the hope for the June 20 hearing is that both the Inverness city council members and affected property owners see the value of the project’s long term return on investment and work together to move the planned sewer extension along State Road 44 to completion.
