This is so foolish, since the injected wastewater will not only foul drinking water supplies, but it will also deliver nitrogen-loaded wastewater to offshore coral reefs via upwelling. This bill overrides earlier important legislation that established a standard of advanced wastewater and reuse to replace ocean outfalls in South Florida.   And it is a joke to define injection as a method of reuse.  DV

Surfrider Foundation Action Alert:  OUTFALL BILL -SB796/HB 61

The proposal, House Bill 613 by Rep. Carlos Trujillo (R-Miami) and Senate Bill 796 by Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami) and Senator Sobel (D-Broward) , allows for less wastewater treatment, an increase in the amount ofsecondarily treated sewage being discharged directly into South Florida coastal marine waters and the injection of sewage into the Biscayne and Upper Floridian Aquifers  shallow drinking water supplies for South Florida and the Keys. Thisbill is trying to undo the efforts we took 2 years ago in passing this bill and delays the requirement for compliance with a state mandate to eliminate ocean outfall, improve wastewater treatment and beneficially reuse a portion of thatwastewater by five years.

Florida’s tremendous growth over the past decade has raised critical concern in the Legislature over how we manage our water, not only for drinking but also for waste disposal.  Communities throughout Florida have seen the benefits ofembracing readily available and proven technology for advanced wastewater treatment and re-use, with some communities reaching upwards of 80 percent efficiency. Unfortunately, this legislation would reverse these trends and detrimentallyimpact the treatment and reuse of water of the largest municipalities in our state, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

These Bills allow wastewater disposal to be accomplished by:
1. Treating Less (to a lower standard) -If a facility reuses 100% of its wastewater it is exempt from the AWT treatment standard. (HB-­‐613/ 73-­‐79 + page 2 of staff analysis.)

2. Injecting More ( Redefining Reuse) -The bills provide a means to achieve 100% reuse by redefining reuse as Recharge into the Biscayne and Upper Floridan Aquifers ( HB-­‐613/ lines 6,7-­‐ 91,92 )

3. Injecting into Shallow Drinking Water Aquifers- More troubling, these bills redefine “reuse” to allow for injection into the Biscayne and Upper Floridan Aquifers. (HB-­‐613
/Lines 6,7 – 91,92.) These are shallow drinking water aquifers. This means, under this legislation reused water will be injected into the drinking water resources for a significant portion of South Florida. While they say it is to”drinking water standards” that doesnt take into consideration that the nitrogen level is far too high for our reef which will be effective by offshore upwellings.

BOTTOM LINE!: This legislation significantly lowers the water quality standards and treatment requirements in the state allowing water treatment facilities to treat less, inject more, and inject into shallow drinking water aquifers.

Questions to have Senators Ask One-Pager

Our Senators are in recess. PLEASE CALL THEM while they are back in your home districts. While the bill has passed in the House, our goal is to see to it that the Senator Budget Committee and other Senators to ask the hard questions beforeletting this bill move to the Senate Floor for voting. The following key members are on the committee:

Chair:
Senator JD Alexander (R)
Vice Chair:
Senator Joe Negron (R)

* Senator Thad Altman (R)
* Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R)
* Senator Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff (R)
* Senator Mike Fasano (R)
* Senator Anitere Flores (R)
* Senator Don Gaetz (R)
* Senator Alan Hays (R)
* Senator Arthenia L. Joyner (D)
* Senator Evelyn J. Lynn (R)
* Senator Gwen Margolis (D)
* Senator Bill Montford (D)
* Senator Nan H. Rich (D)
* Senator Garrett Richter (R)
* Senator David Simmons (R)
* Senator Gary Siplin (D)
* Senator Eleanor Sobel (D)
* Senator John Thrasher (R)
* Senator Stephen R. Wise (R)

Please contact your Senators and Representatives, ESPECIALLY if they are on this Budget Committee. Simply Log on to myfloridahouse.gov or myfloridasenate.gov and find your elected official or Call Toll free 1 (800) 342-2172begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1 (800) 342-2172      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1 (800) 342-2172      end_of_the_skype_highlightingbegin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1 (800) 342-2172      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting       1 (800) 342-2172     end_of_the_skype_highlighting and have your Zip Code ready to be directedto your Representative or Senator.

Other relevant websites:

http://www.watereuse.org/files/s/docs/Layla_Llewelyn__Compatibility_Mode_.pdf
http://static-lobbytools.s3.amazonaws.com/pres /20110207_outfall_fact_sheet_2011updated.pdf
https://www.reefrelieffounders.com/news/2011/03/01/reef-rescue-florida-invites-northerns-to-come-and-swim-in-our-sewage/
http://www.freedivingspearfishing.com/forum/florida/3146-florida-legislature-is-moving-to-derail-the-ocean-outfall-legislation.html
http://www.miamidade.gov/greenprint/planning/library/milestone_one/water.pdf
http://blueoceaninitiative.com/2011/03/03/florida-invites-northerners-to-come-and-swim-in-sewage/

Special thanks to Surfrider and the Florida Coastal & Ocean Coalition