Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) May Be Just First Step

AWT will reduce Nitrogen (N) in the Marcosewage reuse water used for irrigationfrom 7 mg/L to 3 mg/L. This is a 57% reduction in the reuse nitrogen input into the canals.  

By eliminating 57% of the N in the reuse water, AWT will eliminate 57% of the algae created from this source alone. 43% of the algae creation from reuse water will remain. Will AWT be enough to resolve the depleted oxygen problem in the Marco canals? This is unknown. 

The Septic Tank Replacement Program (STRP) which caused the canal pollution was the first mistake. The canal pollution was an unintended consequence. AWT is a big step in the right direction, but will it be enough? That is unknown. 

The better step would be to implement a project to achieve what is called the “Limits of Technology (LOT)”in nutrient reduction, which is a 99% reduction of the nutrients.Reuse water would be clean enough to release to the Marco River or be recycled as raw water. If Marco used the cleaned reuse water as a raw water input, Marco would then be a “closed loop” system, like the space station. This is called the Florida “one water” program. 

There are other sources of nutrients to consider: potable (drinking) water and lawn fertilizer. There may be more to do for nutrient reduction on Marco. AWT is a big step in the right direction – this might not be the last step. 

Complete elimination of nutrients from the reuse water and the potable water coupled with conversion to Florida Friendly Landscaping (FFL) and a complete ban on lawn fertilizer would make Marco Island a “Nutrient Free Zone.” This is the ultimate solution to the canal water quality problems. 

Let’s not be in a rush to make another mistake.