Springs Protection, Florida's Fight Against Storm Water Poll

Springs Protection, Florida's Fight Against Storm Water Pollution, Florida Drinking Water Protector

Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development are being understood. Don Casey recently addressed the Ocala Tea Party and created a great deal of understanding.

Surface Water Quality

Estrogenic Activity in the Environment: Municipal Wastewater Effluent, River, Ponds, and Wetlands, we can evolve a better solution than past bad management practices. We have come from direct Sewer Waste discharge into Silver Springs in the 18th century. Now we still have challenges, however we have come a long way in a short time. Looking to the past is a great way to understand Bad Management Practices. Looking to the future, we can guide our Utilities to better management practices.

If you are a female with a few extra whiskers on your chin, we can help. If you're a male with ED or other reproductive issues we can help. To start with, stop drinking the water down stream from the Kanapaha Sewer Plant. Step 2 is call your legislator and county commissioner and ask them to stop putting Sewer Effluent in the Drinking Water.

Charlie Dean calls for Jobs Ideas and solutions to Utility Discharge problems with Florida's Aquifer. Protecting Florida Treasures and creating jobs are on the Senator's high priority list.

Alachua County Gainesville Florida, Neighboring Marion County Residents express concern about Kanapaha Sewer Plant daily discharges of millions of gallons of Sewer Effluent into drinking water aquifer. Studies show there is reason for concerns.

Water Czar named to represent the voice of the people. Can a Clear Voice and Straight talk make a difference against big agency spin?

Springs Protection Simplified! DEP and DCA may have to tone down no growth message. Is FDEP causing the State budget crunch?

We all have to work together. Governor Rick Scott, and your legislators are the key to cleaner water. DEP can't do it alone. It is actually easy to clean and divert pollution away from the aquifer and surface water bodies. Learn More.

Sometimes it is easier to understand the local picture and site pollution when viewing earth from orbit and the big picture. Florida's next generation of students are having fun while learning how to Sustain a healthy Earth.

Bad practices developed over the past 100 years, as urban areas drained away unwanted storm water and Sewer Effluent.

Today, we know better and science has a more gobal understanding of Green Sustainability. Practices of dumping and draining that developed when human populations were small are no longer sustainable.

Science, and especially a fresh perspective from space are helping to solve problems.

Gammons Scholars learn to have fun while developing into tomorrows leaders. Team Telescope is a way for first hand involvement. Chandra, Spitizer, Hubble type viewing suddenly becomes more interesting to students after they view their world and space objects, through their own Telescope.

Decades old bad management practices are out dated

Environmentalist Don Browning shows how new Earth Science Solutions are Green Sustainable.

Science and Education promote Sustainable Green

Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp Promotes Education.

Space Florida and NASA lead Environmental Earth Science. Susan J Helms Telescope Dedication.

Other Sustainable Green Happenings on Planet Earth

Visit Springs Protection. Com for up to date news on Florida's Sustainability Green Issues.

St Johns Water District Executive Director Kirby Green, Helps Cities and Counties in the district, Understand the Value of Water!

Once considered a liability, Sewer Effluent is making a comeback as the answer to water use problems. Through out the history of man, sewer and wells have been kept separate in every successful society. St Johns Staff recently explained the value of using reuse water from Sewers, Storm-water, and surface runoff rivers to create a Conservation Solution. Ocala and Marion County Water Experts were asked by environmentalist Don Browning to stop the use of Sink Holes and Drainage Wells to drain off valuable irrigation water. Harvesting Storm Water and Sewer Effluent is the Conservation answer to modern water concerns.

Ocala is moving from wasting Storm Sewer and Sanitary Sewer water by the Billions of Gallons annually, to gaining a potential revenue source for its utility customers. Currently giving the valuable water away, the water will become a valuable revenue source soon experts predict.

Sometimes Ocala City Officials have been accused of being asleep at the switch when it comes to Water and Electricity Utilities efficiency. Now, at least, City Utility Director Jeff Halcomb giving away the valuable water to a local business. Soon Ocala Utilities customers will likely ask the city to charge the commercial customers to pay for the water just as residential customers must. Director of Water and Sewer are ahead of Gainesville when it comes to Waste Sewer Water. By giving the water away at a million gallons daily, a market is being created for open market bidding for the effluent.

Alachua County has already been put on notice by Marion County Commissioners for dumping their Sewer Effluent into the Drinking Water Aquifer that both counties use as their drinking water source. Stan McClean the Environmental Champion who addressed the dumping by Alachua during a Springs Protection Public hearing said "Alachua Officials felt it was alright to dump sewer effluent into the drinking water because it saved money in the short run for Gainesville Utilities." Mounding of the polluted waste water is now making local wells unusable. Already collected and ready to be pumped to a customer for irrigation, Alachua County dumps the water into the Drinking Water Aquifer. Marion Springs Protection Expert Don Browning asked the Commissioners to ask Alachua to rethink their approach to water conservation.

Don Browning explained how valuable the Sewer Effluent and the Storm Sewer Runoff is if piped to a customer for irrigation. Ocala City and Marion County may be able to help Alachua County and Gainesville to be better stewards of our Water District Assets. We are in the Same Water District explained Don Browning. Representatives Charles Van Zant, Alan Hays, and Kurt Kelly have been very active working with St Johns Water District Executive Director Kirby Green to create Conservation Solutions amoung other issues.

In a recent meeting with Environmentalist Don Browning, Representative Van Zant studied data outlining sources of waste water that will provide 25 million gallons per day of free reuse water. The added bonus is that by using the reuse water less clean pure Floridan Aquifer water will be drawn out for irrigation, and the Drinking Water Aquifer Water that is drawn out will be clean, not polluted from Sewer Effluent and Storm Sewer Runoff sent into the Aquifer.

Marion County Commissioners adopted two land use change amendments at today's Public Hearing. Critics pointed out that county sink hole use was allowed for the County Storm Water Department engineers in conflict with the adopted regulations.

Short sighted, was how environmentalist Don Browning described the use of drains both natural and man made to drain Storm Water into the Aquifer. A recent $ 1,000,000 study on Water Protection called Storm Water the number 1, hazard to the springs however the commission disregarded calls to clean up the heavy pollution. Comments by commissioners and environmentalist in attendance showed that the commissioners believed storm water is not a serious threat to Silver or Rainbow Springs. It would follow that the million dollar Storm Water Department should be phased out. Alachua County injection process of 6 million Gallons of high nitrate sewer effluent into the drinking water aquifer was roundly condemed, however 4 of the 5 commissioners were not inclined to care about the pollution just up stream from Silver Springs. Commissioner Stan McClain was the only commissioner who was upset about the hypicrocy of asking citizens to protect ground water while directing storm sewer runoff to Marion County's sink holes.

Springs Protection laws proposed by someone in Marion County will require special use septic tanks designed for difficult locations such as the Florida Keys. Called Dosing Systems, they cost thousands more than regular systems because of the motorized design. A Normal Septic Tank doses, as the system is used. Gravity provides the pump out as new sewage inters. Motorized systems use a special sensor to burp out an amount of effluent even when the system is not receiving sewage.

Families living on the Marion County average income of below $40,000 will use up to $10,000 of their income if any of their system needs maintenance or repair. Word will get out and people will be reluctant to make any repairs for fear of falling into the Dosing Requirement Trap.

Marion County Commission is asked to use proposed new regulations on their own pollution. We must clean up long standing Marion County Pollution at DEP, DOT and Marion County's own pollution sources. Wide spread pollution sources have been uncovered by Alachua County, Gainesville and Ocala and Marion County utilities. Questions have been raised as to how much scientist knew about these point source pollution volumes causing algae and degradation in Silver Springs. Dr. HT Odum and later his student Dr Bob Knight have repeatedly studied Silver Springs and River, and missed the gross pollution sources just a few miles away in Ocala.

During Dr Odum's years many drains were set, sending tons of pollutants directly to Silver Springs annually. Dr. Knight set up his testing station at 1200 down from the springs. Just a few meters from the monster pipe out flow into Silver River. Less than a few meters behind Dr. Knight's test equipment just down stream boiled out three dump truck loads of pollutants annually according to Marion County Storm Water engineers. The Smell must have been horrendous. Yet incredibly, Dr. Knight could not find any point sources of pollutants. Dr. Bob Knight refused to return repeated calls to comment on this issue, and when asked to comment on these issues in person, said he had no comment for this reporter.

It now appears that most Utility Storm Sewer Pollution is actually not held in retention ponds as required by law. It now appears that the rules only apply to citizens who are not actually polluting.

Most Marion County storm sewer systems enter the aquifer by sink hole or a drain pipe drilled in the bottom of water retention ponds.

If Marion County would apply the proposed regulations to their own pollution points, we believe the springs would become much cleaner. If they could also ask the Governor to stop Alachua County and the City of Ocala, we believe Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs would return to their pre-pollution clean clear waters.

Call and ask Jim Payton, Mike Amsten and Barbara Fitos to vote against putting regulations on the people in Marion County who are not polluting Silver Springs.

This legislation will not stop the big polluters who are hiding behind Springs Protection. Ocala and Alachua County have big pipes dumping thousands of tons of nitrate pollution into the Aquifer leading to Silver and rainbow springs. This legislation does not apply to Ocala, Dunnellon, or Gainesville. These polluting locations are the push behind the proposed fix for the springs. None of these polluters will be impacted, except that they can go forward and keep polluting. It will appear that the springs have been protected, however just the opposite is the case.

Come to the meeting and speak your mind. However you see this issue, please come and speak. Phone, e mail and speak personally with all the commissioners.

Governor Crist is urged to sign Senate Bills 360 and 2080. Leading environmental groups hope to juice up the economy in order to promote the economic health needed to properly support the environment.

DEP is likely to see its budget reduced by millions if we can't create growth in Florida necessary to generate adequate tax revenue, declared environmentalist Don Browning. Legislative leaders are struggling to fund DEP however, the springs working groups organized by DEP are a leading cause of reduced growth and tax revenue for Florida.

House Spreaker Larry Cretul is working well with the leadership of both houses, to promote a stronger Florida Economy. Governor Crist knows the importance of a healthy growing economy to have adequate tax revenue to fund environmental efforts.

St Johns Water Management District takes step to save the Drinking Water Aquifer.

Environmentalist Approve of using River Water.

By a close vote, Water District Officials allowed the use of River Water to help keep Drinking Water Supplies abundant.

Most citizens present were more willing to support the use river water after hearing how it would help the Drinking Water Aquifer.

Environmental Artist Don Browning explained how citizens have been on the lookout for a way to slow or stop the dumping of non drinkable Storm Sewer Runoff into the Drinking Water Aquifer. A study supply of River Water will provide a 10 times plus benefit to citizens as not Billions of Storm Sewer Runoff will no longer be lost to dumping.

NEWS: St Johns Water Management Board Gets it Right!
St Johns will all the Use of some of the water running that currently runs out to the sea. Relieve the pumping of ground water was the request in testimony of Environmentalist Don Browning. Many who had asked for permit denial, changed their mind after hearing Don's plea to spread out the use of water in a more balanced Environmental Stewardship Friendly style.

Environmentalist are beginning to support the wise decision by The St Johns Water Management District Governing Board.

Many concerned citizens who came to the Permit Hearing in Palatka Florida recently left with a new fresh appreciation of big picture stewardship of all our water. If we all do our part we can start springs protection within The City Limits of Ocala Florida, where 99% of all the big dump sites exist.

Commissioners Hope to stop the City Utility pollution from Urban Point Source dumping as the place to start in protecting the Springs.

Some suggest regulating non-polluting county citizens, as a good place to start with Springs Protection, but environmentalist have pointed out that there are no Drain Pipes feeding high amounts of Pollution out in the County. Ocala as most people know by now is exempt from the Proposed Springs Protection Regulation. Ocala has the right to Pollute and the right to avoid restrictions. We suggest we start regulation with Ocala's 28 drains, and the Sink holes that are allowed as direct conduits to the Aquifer because they are new, or have been in use for years and therefore grandfathered.

Scientist say billions of gallons are wasted daily. Far less than 1% was requested for use. A majority of the Board Members agreed with Don's big picture idea of spreading the use of water resources to reduce the overall impact on mother nature.

Aquifer Task Force member, MST editor, environmental writer and artist, Don Browning lead the testimony in agreement with the final approval of the permit by pointing out that all water is valuable. River water that flows past the test pick-up point is 2 Billion Gallons a day. Taking 5 million is a wonderful environmental move that will allow the Seminole Storm Sewer System to be switched to environmentally sound Storm Water Use System that now can be used 12 months per year.

At the present time Storm Water is wasted as unwanted, and dumped into the rivers and creeks, or worse yet injected into the drinking water aquifer to reek havoc with our pure drinking water.
Many at the meeting are from Ocala where Silver Springs also suffers from years of dumping by the City of Ocala into Sink Holes and into Drainage Wells directly into the Ocala Community's Drinking Water Supply. Don Browning pointed out to the St Johns Board that every gallon that is used from the river is a gallon that does not need to be sucked from the Aquifer. Having two workers and only using one to do all the work finally wears out one of the workers. We must be better stewards and balance the withdrawals from both surface and just below the surface sources.

Using the River Water will help relieve draw down of the ground water. Many in the crowd had not thought through the issue.

Don complimented the hundreds who were concerned about the river water for being right, just not going far enough. Conservation is the key to reducing at least 50% of current water use. Conservation is helped at a 10 to 1 ratio of water taken from the River. Don supported Staff contentions that using far less than 1% of the 2 Billion Gallons of river water would save 10 times that much now considered a problem and dumped just to get rid of it.

Marion County's City of Ocala is the best example of totally wasting Billions of Gallons of Storm Sewer Water Annually. For Decades Ocala Utility Officials have dug holes in the ground and inserted large pipes to drain off valuable Storm Sewer Water. Not fit to drink, the water can be used as "Gray Water" and mixed with Human Waste Sewage Effluent to be used for irrigation. Again, This Water is Not Drinkable however it is actually cleaned by mother natured if sprayed on lawns as irrigation water. Not only is the Global Warming Problem helped by the CO2 absorbed by lawns as they then pump out pure oxygen and nitrogen into the atmosphere.

Springsfest.Com will help you understand how to stop Pollution in Marion County. City of Ocala Storm Sewer Pipes empty into Drinking Water Aquifer must be stopped from polluting. Learn More.

Environmental Answers by a responsible Company, Dow. The Human Element.

Introducing a question and answer introduction of Mr. Don Browning, Environmental Artist and Springs Protection Author. See full Queston and Answer at:

Jim Beeman
Secretary, TAG

Tax Action Group

Environmental Springs Protection Spokesman Mr. Don Browning

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Our Marion

Wall Street Journal describes the hole in the donut syndrome of gaps in governments. Ocala is a prime example. Marion County Laws that must apply are exempt in Ocala. In difficult economic times the economic and social tole is crushing on the urban population left behind in the City.

The Adding of Extra Regulations on rural Marion County by Springs Protection Growth laws introduced by the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Dept. of Community Affairs is harming the poor and the minority citizens of Ocala. Poor citizens unable to afford the more expensive homes are stuck back in Ocala. While the wealthy can afford to move to the rural more expensive homes, the city loses the wealth and retains ethnic and poor groups.

Springs Protection is code for Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development in Florida. FDEP is drawing in EPA with program that builds Utility Discharge for Cities and creates political left power.

Marion County and City of Ocala

City and County Commissioners don't know which way to turn! Many more important issues on the agenda. Dumping into Sink Holes likely to continue for now. City of Ocala looks to use pollution as a way to get Obama Bailout money. Ocala Drinking Water may be tainted with StormWater directed into the Aquifer.

Authorities empowered to protect citizens let dishonist dumping by city and county continue. New sink holes and old grandfathered sink holes will be used by city and county stormwater authorities into the foreseeable future, to dump storm water into drinking water aquifer.

Landlord at Silver Springs Attraction has allowed dumping of sewage for years. Oil washes off 17 acres of parking lot pavement, then flows over dam into lower bowl of Silver Springs and the Silver River. Springs Protection is a joke.

Marion County Citizens miles from the Springs have been blamed and regulated while DEP and DOT actually fund programs to cover up the dumping by the City of Ocala.

DOT, DEP and City of Ocala team up to blame Citizens of Marion County for Springs Algae Growth. While pretending to protect the Silver Springs, DEP Spokesmen help guard and protect the tons of nitrates dumping into Silver Springs. Year after year, the City of Ocala has increased the tonnage of nitrates to Silver Springs. For nearly 10 years Springs Protection has pointed blame at the citizens and septic tanks while the City of Ocala and Marion County dumped into Sink Holes and drainage wells directly into Silver Springs and Silver River. Private company Pandion Systems spokesman for DEP halts presentation of Ocala Dumping presentation by activist Don Browning.

New Sink Hole Dump Site for Rinker Washout Pit.

City of Ocala continues to harm Silver Springs Attraction.

Retention Pond Used to Dump into Silver Springs.

Added to 28 drainage wells Ocala sink hole use harmful.

Florida Tax Dollars wasted on DEP Spokesman Program. Environmentalist hope DEP will return to speaking directly with Citizens.

Ocala Utility spokesman admits to years of pollution tonnage sent to Silver Springs by the City of Ocala. Bruce Phillips stated that the city is prepared to spend millions of dollars to fix the problem. Citizens groups out in Marion County long blamed for the nitrogen increase in Silver Springs were happy to hear the City admit to major polluting.

Activist feel that City of Ocala's polluting of Silver Springs and Silver River may be causing the down turn in attendance because of the algae growth. Visitors report greater algae growth from the pollution coming into the Springs. Drainage wells and sink hole use by the City and Marion County have been a secrete kept from even the County Commissioners.

City Engineer had no answer as to why the city of Ocala was sending tons on Nitrate into Silver Springs. Asked why Sink Holes were used as the drain in the bottom of the new Storm Sewer Project off 17th street, Spokesman Phillips had no comment. Pro Economic Development activist Don Browning asked the Pandion Systems DEP group to help determine the tonnage of pollution that is being dumped into the upper aquifer leading into Silver Springs. Mr. Browning questioned the propriety of allowing the Rinker Clean out Pit and the Ocala Storm Sewer to drain directly into the retention pond Sink Holes.

State officials at DEP are pretending to protect Silver Springs with an expensive Springs Protection Program, while actually they are allowing the City of Ocala to foul the Springs. Algae is growing annually while the City of Ocala dumps into 28 aquifer sites and is developing a totally new dump site into the Aquifer at 17th street. Mr. Browning has documented the new dumping into sink holes by the City and County. The Pandion Systems springs protection spokesman Fay Baird cut Browning's presentation short as revolations of the new dump site came to light.

Browning is requesting help from State Legislators to stop the pollution and help expose the cover up of nitrate dumping by the very authorities charged with protecting the Springs.

It appears that the Authorities responsible for protecting the Springs are actually the polluters.

Often blamed for pollution, homes of wealthy retirees are now seen as an asset and not as a problem. Every 100 residents with $100,000 disposible income will provide an almost perfect base to the local economic development.

SILVER SPRINGS WORKING GROUP Organizes under private funding. State To Save Millions!

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Don Browning . Com, Environmental Artist/Activist.

Springs Protection . Com Click Here!

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DEP TO INVISTIGATE DRAINS INTO SILVER SPRINGS

DEP MAY GAIN SUPER HERO STATUS IF THEY CAN FIX DRAINS.

Super Heroes Attack StormWater Pollution

Help us with the complex problem of keeping our Springs Clean and Clear.

BMP's or Bad Management Practices called into question.

BMP BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WILL REPLACE BAD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES STATE WIDE. DEP TO WORK WITH PRIVATE SECTOR TO ADDRESS CONCERNS.

SPZ or Springs Pollution Zone is being targeted.

Marion County Commissioners Save the Aquifer!

Marion County Commissioners are questioning County Staff about Gross Tonnage of Pollution not previously mentioned in Springs Protection Plan, as the main source of Pollution in Silver Springs.

The City of Ocala and to a lesser degree Dunnellon have a problem with Storm Water Systems that have existed for many years. Recent springs protection programs have focused on nincorporated Marion County. Residents outside the Cities hope they won't be blamed for pollution caused by the Urban areas. Ocala is burdened with old failed Storm Sewer Systems that drain into the Aquifer just above Silver Springs. State financed Springs Working Groups have focused attention on nitrate pollution. Urban StormWater Sewer Systems are surfacing as a major cause of pollution.

Before Urban Zones experience more growth, they will have to address the problems caused by their Storm Water Sewer Systems.

State, City, and County Storm Water Experts are focusing on Ocala's Storm Water Sewer System. DEP is working to establish Pollution Levels for systems like Ocala's. Many decades old, these systems have for years increased pollution to our springs. Stormwater Sewer systems send water down hill. Cities hope the water will not come back.

Citizens no longer will allow Cities to dump nitrate rich Storm Water at Silver Springs. Water District Experts have sounded the alarm. Reduce Nitrates or suffer the consequences.

Marion County Officials determine that Ocala and Dunnellon citizens were never included in the proposed Spring Protection Act.

Nice try, however The Citizens of Ocala will have to pay for plugging up the Ocala Drainage Wells that are polluting Silver Springs.

The Ocala Star Banner supported an effort to blame Citizens out in unincorporated Marion County. The stratagey of Blaming citizens as far away as Weirsdale, and Del Webb for nitrates in Silver Springs has failed. Ocala attempted to promote Springs Protection while exempting themselves from the Springs Protection Laws.

Intro to Storm Water

Click Here to visit, Fix Storm Sewer Systems in Ocala Florida.

Welcome to our web site! We care about our natural treasures.

Marion County is at the front lines of a battle to make our Springs as clean as we possibly can.

A Springs Protection Zone was developed to protect the springs. That Zone is a pollution Zone, Ocala and Dunnellon cities are ready to stop polluting.

Your Super Heroes now know that the biggest source of nitrates causing algae in Silver and Rainbow Springs comes from Collected Storm Sewer Water in the cities at each spring.

Wells have been dug in the earth's crust to dispose of nitrate laden storm water into the source waters of Silver Springs. I know, it sounds unbelievable.

Not 1, not 2, but 28 or more. These holes in the surface lead directly to Karst features like a cave or underground river leading to Silver Springs and possibly Lake Weir. Actually, once the nitrates are sent underground we as humans lose any control over them. Thermal reasurch has shown rivers under Ocala leading directly to the springs.

County Commissioners are now asking, Why didn't we know about these drainage wells. We have been looking for any nitrate source and this was known by a select few all the time.

Much is happening, almost daily new information comes in. We now know that the big populations at the sprigs are not included in the proposed springs protection act as the Star Banner likes to call the proposed laws on all the people far from the problem.

The Super Heroes will try to focus on the biggest polluters first. We are mostly volunteers so if we step on some toes we can't be fired or have our pay cut.

We hope you'll find the information you need on this site to make an informed decision. We look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions or need further information.

Really Bad Stuff is collected from streets, yards, parking lots and other funky places!

It is then sent down into the Ground water rivers under Ocala to go mainline to Silver Springs.

Some is likely going to Lake Weir. We are concerned. No one should be doing this!

The City of Ocala put out a report stating that their Storm Sewer Water has .00 parts per million of nitrates. We must do better. County Storm Sewer Engineers know that normal storm water is loaded with many nitrates. For example, Ocala has 5 to 12 tons of animal poop a day to contend with daily. The storm water Tip sheet says; "That is a lot to be washed into our rivers, lakes and springs. They might add, " This is especially important because we have drilled holes and send a great deal of Ocala Storm Sewer Water directly to the Aquifer and the Springs." What we don't send into the ground water we pump over land from basin to basin out of the city limits to the springs Basin. It is called Basin #5 and it ends just a few hundred feet from the Springs and River.

Just for the record, the Marion County Storm Water engineers have been focused on public safety and flooding without concern for the nitrate load being sent to the springs. Our County Commissioners were never told during 3 years of Springs Protection Efforts, about the Ocala Drain Wells sending nitrates to the springs via the mainline ground water dumping into the Karst features in this area. Our Commissioners also did not understand the solution nitrate total N, tonnage from storm water being pumped across Ocala over into the county to Silver Springs basin #5. Their concern was mainly flooding and keeping the pumps running clearing out storm water from Ocala. The Commissioners have no data what so ever, as to the Nitrate total N tonnage arriving in Silver Springs from Ocala storm sewer system.

Bottom Line Hypothesis:
   Assume there was no population in rural Marion County, just open fields and forest.
   Assume that Ocala and Dunnellon had their current population and size and current Storm Sewer Systems.
   Assume Ocala and Dunnellon Spray fields and sewer systems were operational at current nitrate Total Nitrogen Tonnage.
   Assume that sewer along the Rainbow and Tubers in the Rainbow and Silver Springs Attractions nitrate contribution is at current volumes.

We believe that the Nitrate levels and algae threat to Silver and Rainbow Springs and Rivers would appear as it does today.
We feel there is no hope to protect our springs unless we can remove the protection currently afforded Cities, Counties, and State Agencies who we believe are the major pollution source to our springs.

We must be able to freely and accurately test, evaluate and correct the major Storm Sewer Systems nitrate tonnage that is sent daily to our springs.

No win situation for DEP and FWC
DEP and FWC must separate themselves from a decades long governmental tendency to build Storm Sewer Systems that dump storm water in local springs if they are near by. Cities tended to build up around big springs and old city methods were to dump into drainage sink holes or drill down and create man made drainage wells. Surface piping out of town powered by big pumps move Storm Sewer Systems out past the city limits to the springs basin.

Anyone who collects a lot of storm water and pipes it to the Springs can be pretty much assured that the nutrient rich Storm Water will grow some Wicked Algae in the clear clean spring water of Silver or Rainbow Springs and Rivers.
Springs protection blaming of the of the rural population while exempting the Urban Cities near the Springs is pure folly! The problem for DEP and now FWC in promoting local environmental political working groups is that much of the blame points where DEP Senior Management doesn't want attention, at the Cities and DOT Storm Sewer Systems.

DOT, Ocala and Dunnellon officials are not bad guys, but they are the Heavy Weight Champions of nitrate delivery to Rainbow and Silver Springs. Most city and state officials were just children when much of the bad Storm Water systems were developed. You guys are not to blame for all the nitrates being collected and sent to the springs.

Nitrates are actually good guys, little ions that fuel all types of green plants. It is the cities that gather acres upon acres of storm water and concentrate it into the springs source flow. DEP must expect some greening of the Springs when they allow all this concentration of NO3 and other IONS of nitrogen.

Truth: The over zealous Jr. Deputy types that you are hiring to develop public awareness of nitrates are causing bigger problems than they are solving. When they stir up awareness of nitrate sources, Governmental Sources involving Cities, Counties, Water Management Districts come under the spot light. At that point DEP has to defend and support, and deflect any attempt to measure, evaluate, and expose the City Nitrate

1. The Love Affair with new law based on Algae in the springs is pretty much past around here. Only your lower level people are still passionate about pushing for new law in out lying areas like central florida.

2. You have an industry that has developed totally dependent on Blaming the people for threatened springs while somehow not blaming governmental controlled pollution systems. Storm Sewer is everywhere and controlled by government. No local ordinance can touch DEP or DOT or a city/county/water district that has DEP approval.

3. Your people can not tell the full story as they stir up strategies to stop the nitrates. They use science to point out the problem but never point out the source if it is governmental. (Can you imagine Connie Bersok's department presenting a program that described the tonnage of nitrates coming from the Springs Attraction, or cities such as Ocala, or Dunnellon?)

4. Marion County Springs Protection Act, only targets people out in the county. The all of society near both springs are exempt. DEP is very close to defending pollution sources more than the Springs, Lakes and Rivers. Your Springs Protection Program needs to shut down or begin including all of the sources of nitrates. The Springs Protection Super HEROES, will challenge the DEP and FWC Springs working Group people to actually clean up the Springs.

Some supporting evidence that has caused the local Springs Protection Act to collapse.

   * Not a single shred of evidence nor even an acknowledgement of the existence of the dumping of Storm Sewers into the Springs Source waters.

   * All of the blame and new restrictions were directed far from the Springs, on far away people, homes, business, yards and farms.

   * Thousands of Lawns, homes, Parking Lots, Commercial Buildings, septic systems and anything else that can pollute was exempted.

   * Ocala and Dunnellon are the key supporters of the new zones, and they knew all along that they were exempt.

5. We are recommending a thorough study and testing of current Storm Sewer Systems in Ocala and Dunnellon in order to recommend the best way to handle storm Sewer Water while protecting our springs.

6. We recommend that the Cities of Ocala and Dunnellon actually adopt the Springs Protection Act, as the Star Banner calls the ordinances. Rather than being exempt, they are closest to the springs and sending in the most nitrates. It would be great to see how clean the springs would become with reduced pollution from these urban population centers.

Super Heroes of Marion County