Sign AWT Petition

A petition is being circulated on Marco Island that will help eliminatethe canal water quality problems. Algal blooms are fed by excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) from the sewage treatment plant in the form of sewage reuse water used for irrigation at the condos along Collier Boulevard and at the two island golf courses. The nutrients leach into the canals and feed algal blooms. Oxygen in the canals has dropped by 70% in the last five years. The petition promotes the upgrade of the sewage plant so that the excess nutrients are stripped out of the reuse water. 

The petition proposes a new ordinance that states: “The City wastewater treatment plant shall be upgraded to achieve Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) nutrient standards that provide reclaimed water product that contains not more than, on an annual average basis: (a) Total Nitrogen (TN) expressed as N of no more than 3 mg/L; and (b) Total Phosphorus (TP) expressed as P of no more than 1 mg/L.” 

Petitions are validatedby the Collier County Supervisor of Elections (SOE) and are available as a Public Records Request (PRR) for the “Petition Signature Audit Report.”This report shows that four of the seven Marco Island city councilors havesigned this petition:Darrin Palumbo, Bonita Schwan, Stephen Gray, and Tamara Goehler.Erik Brechnitzand Deb Henry have also signed the petition. Six councilors out of seven. The new ordinance could be passed at the next city council meeting.  

A “full blown” AWT upgrade might cost up to $100 million and is not needed. Just strip the excess nutrients out of the reuse water. This “Limited” AWT project has been estimated to cost between $2 million and $8 million to remove up to 99% of the offending nutrients from the reuse water. The city might pay for the upgrade out of the Water & Sewer reserve fundand immediately apply for a 100% state grant. This project could be implemented in 2026. 

Sign the petition. Let the Marco residents decide. 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/isj0czj6fw4sio4z9lpqx/APPROVED-AWT-PETITION-6.23.25.pdf?rlkey=xohwoh02f3q8nh0xf1p5kgil0&dl=0